of Payne and Dillard's storm chase was assumed to have been lost. However, in 2005, the tape was discovered in a shelved box. The tape, which was later broadcast in a KFOR feature report, revealed included footage of Payne and Dillard getting too close to the F5 tornado, attempting to get out of the storm's way (this was one of at least two instances while chasing the tornadoes that Payne and Dillard had close calls nearly ending up in the tornado's path). In April 2006, Payne and photojournalist Kevin Josephy captured a rare anticyclonic tornado that ultimately destroyed several hangars at the El Reno Regional Airport. Awards and recognition Over his career, Payne has won a total of six Regional Emmy Awards from National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has also been nominated eleven times, along with recognitions from the Associated Press and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters for his severe weather coverage. Due to his coverage of the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak, now-former governor Frank Keating honored David and the rest of KFOR's weather team for their extensive coverage of the storms. The May 3rd outbreak coverage earned Payne one Emmy, as well as two additional nominations, to Payne and photojournalist Marc Dillard. The "lost tape" of the May 3rd chase also earned Payne an Emmy nomination for his reporting. Payne received additional Regional Emmy awards and nominations for coverage of the May 8, 2003 F4 tornado that had a track paralleling that of the F5 tornado in May 1999, the El Reno tornado on April 26, 2006 (along with a National Emmy), an F3 tornado that hit Sweetwater, Oklahoma on May 5, 2007 and for a tornado outbreak on May 24, 2008 in Northern Oklahoma. References External links David Payne's KWTV bio Living people American television meteorologists University of Oklahoma alumni Storm chasers 1968 births