Mac McGarry

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Maurice J. "Mac" McGarry (born June 15, 1926) [1] is a retired game show host of the television quiz show It's Academic, which airs in Washington, D.C. on the local NBC-owned WRC-TV. He was the host of the show from the time it started airing on October 7, 1961, until June 25, 2011.

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[edit] Early life and career

McGarry joined NBC in 1950 for what was then WNBW located in the Wardman Park Hotel. [2] There he worked as the announcer for the NBC radio show American Forum of the Air. During this time, he was also making his first forays into television covering Harry S. Truman's presidential inauguration events for NBC-TV and appearing regularly on NBC's The Big Preview. [3] Since then, he has hosted numerous talk shows, including In Our Town, the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color.[4]

Some of McGarry's first assignments included announcing news of the start of the Korean War and introducing President Truman from the White House. In the early 1950s, McGarry was involved in the first color television experiments. [2]

During the 1970s and 1980s, McGarry was the announcer for NBC News Updates that originated from Washington, and over the years also did live booth announcing work for WRC-TV.

[edit] Later years and retirement

In September 2011, McGarry temporarily took a leave of absence when he was suffering from a lingering cold. Hillary Howard, a news anchor for WTOP-FM, began filling in for him. Although McGarry's intentions were to continue hosting the 51st season of It's Academic, he announced in early November 2011 that he would be retiring and that Howard would be taking over as host.[5]

  • McGarry hosts It's Academic 2009-12-12

  • It's Academic being recorded in historic WRC Studio A 2009-12-12

[edit] Awards

McGarry is a charter member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' (NATAS) Silver Circle. Other honors include:

  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement
  • Several Mass Media Awards from the American Association of University Women
  • The Board of Governors Award from the DC chapter of NATAS
  • The America's Role Model 2004 Award from the Olender Foundation
  • Marymount University conferred the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, on McGarry in recognition of his commitment to academic excellence, encouragement of young scholars, and outstanding dedication to his profession and community.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.birthdatabase.com/query.php
  2. ^ a b Meet Mac McGarry - It's Academic News Story - WRC | Washington
  3. ^ The Joy Boys - History - Mac McGarry Show
  4. ^ a b Marymount University Commencement Ceremonies (April 15, 2005)
  5. ^ http://wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2617677

[edit] External links

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