Voting Station

Charles Hatfield

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Meteorologist

The Resume

    (circa 1875-January 12, 1958)
    Born in Fort Scott, Kansas
    Self-proclaimed 'moisture accelerator'
    Created a mixture of 23 chemicals in evaporating tanks that allegedly attracted rain
    Claimed over 500 successes

Why he might be annoying:

    Detractors said his successes were the result of his using his meteorological skills to select times when there was a high probability of future rain anyway.
    After failing to deliver promised rains in Alaska, he still collected $1,100 (1906).
    In his most famous case, he was hired by San Diego to fill the Morena Reservoir and the subsequent rains caused floods that killed 20 people (1915).
    During the Depression, the rain-making market dried up (so to speak) and he went back to his old job as a sewing machine salesman.
    He took his chemical formula with him to the grave, claiming there was no one trustworthy enough to give the secret to. (Or perhaps because revealing the 23 chemicals would let the skeptics test whether it actually worked.)

Why he might not be annoying:

    Although he did fill the Morena Reservoir (and them some), San Diego refused to pay up.
    He was philosophical about getting stiffed, noting 'It was worth the publicity anyhow.'
    He inspired the Burt Lancaster film 'The Rainmaker' and attended the Hollywood premiere (1956).
    He also inspired the song 'Hatfield' by Widespread Panic.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 76.92% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 53 Votes: 66.04% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 20 Votes: 25.00% Annoying