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Willard Scott

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Willard Scott
Scott in 1997
Born
Willard Herman Scott Jr.

(1934-03-07) March 7, 1934 (age 90)
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Weather presenter
  • author
  • television personality
  • actor
  • clown
  • comedian
  • radio personality
Years active1950–2015
Spouse(s)
Mary Dwyer Scott
​
​
(m. 1959; died 2002)​

Paris Keena
​
​
(m. 2014)​
Children2

Willard Herman Scott Jr. (born March 7, 1934) is an American weather presenter, author, television personality, actor, clown, comedian and radio personality, best known for his TV work on the Today show and as the creator and original portrayer of Ronald McDonald.[1]

Early years

Scott was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on March 7, 1934, and attended George Washington High School. He showed an interest in broadcasting as a 16-year-old, working in 1950 as an NBC page at WRC (AM), NBC's owned-and-operated radio station in Washington, D.C.[2] Scott then attended American University, where he worked alongside fellow student Ed Walker at WAMU-AM, the university's radio station (1951–1953). Scott became a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity while at American University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and religion.[2]

Career

Joy Boys radio show

From 1955 to 1972, Scott teamed with Walker as co-host of the nightly Joy Boys radio program on NBC-owned WRC radio. (This was interrupted from 1956 to 1958 when Scott served on active duty with the U.S. Navy.) Scott routinely sketched a list of characters and a few lead lines setting up a situation, which Walker would commit to memory or make notes on with his Braille typewriter (Walker was blind since birth). In a 1999 article recalling the Joy Boys at the height of their popularity in the mid-1960s, The Washington Post said they "dominated Washington, providing entertainment, companionship, and community to a city on the verge of powerful change".[3] The Joy Boys show played on WRC until 1972 when they moved to cross-town station WWDC for another two years. Scott wrote in his book, The Joy of Living, of their close professional and personal bond which continued until Walker's death in October 2015, saying that they are "closer than most brothers".[1]

Washington, D.C., TV roles

Scott spent the 1960s balancing his radio career with jobs as the host of children's television programs. He appeared on WRC radio's sister station, WRC-TV, playing characters such as Commander Retro and Bozo the Clown.[4] In 1970, Scott began appearing on WRC-TV as a weekday weatherman.

Ronald McDonald character

Main article: Ronald McDonald

Another TV role he performed regularly from 1963–66 and occasionally as late as 1971 was Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's franchise in Washington, D.C. Scott wrote in his book The Joy of Living that he originally created the Ronald McDonald character at the fast-food restaurant chain's request.[1]

In his book Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser claims that McDonald's replaced Scott on account of his weight, supposedly concerned about McDonald's image.[5] Scott has denied the claims, citing other commitments at the time.[citation needed]

NASA

Scott worked as the narrator for NASA's weekly program called "The Space Story", with his contributions spanning from the Apollo Program to the Space Shuttle.[6][7][8][9]

The Today Show

Scott was tapped by NBC in 1980 to become its weatherman for The Today Show, replacing Bob Ryan, who replaced him at WRC-TV until 2010. After being inspired by a viewer request, Scott began his practice of wishing centenarians a happy birthday on-air in 1983.

During the 1980s, Scott routinely did weather reports on the road, interviewing locals at community festivals and landmarks. He also periodically performed on the program from Washington, D.C., which he still considered his home.

In 1989, The Today Show co-host Bryant Gumbel wrote an internal memo critical of the show's personalities, a memo that was later leaked to the media. In the memo, Gumbel said Scott "holds the show hostage to his assortment of whims, wishes, birthdays and bad taste…This guy is killing us and no one's even trying to rein him in."[10] This garnered enough of a backlash that the next time they appeared on camera together Scott kissed Gumbel on the cheek to show he'd forgiven him, and also later said he hoped the whole thing would go away.[11]

In 1992, Scott, who was the first incarnation of Ronald McDonald, recorded a commercial for McDonald's arch-rival Burger King. He also was the spokesman for the Days Inn hotel chain, appearing in their commercials from the following year until 1997.

Scott went into semi-retirement in early 1996 and was succeeded by Al Roker. He continued to appear two days a week on the morning program to wish centenarians a happy birthday. He appeared from the studio lot of WBBH, the NBC affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida. He was also the commercial voice of Smucker's jellies, which sponsored his birthday tributes on Today.[citation needed] Scott also continued to substitute for Roker for over a decade afterward, an arrangement that mostly ended after NBC acquired The Weather Channel in 2008 and started using that channel's meteorologists as substitutes (Entertainment Studios would later acquire The Weather Channel from NBC Universal in 2018, three years after Scott retired from television completely).

Scott announced his full retirement from television on December 11, 2015. Today held a tribute to Scott on his final day (December 15, 2015) featuring tape highlights from his years with the show. The plaza outside Rockefeller Center was renamed Willard Scott Way in his honor. Several former Today staff came to bid farewell to Scott including Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Katie Couric, and Gene Shalit along with Barbara Bush.[12]

Other TV work and awards

Scott made occasional guest appearances as neighbor "Mr. Poole" on The Hogan Family, where his character was married to Mrs. Poole, played by Edie McClurg. From 1961–63 Scott portrayed Bozo the Clown, in the classic children's television program. Scott also hosted the NBC telecast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1987–97 when he was replaced by Matt Lauer the following year.[13]

For several years in the 1980s, Scott donned a Santa Claus costume for the broadcast of the National Tree-Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C.[14]

In 1990 and 1992, Scott also hosted the Pillsbury Bake-Off on CBS (although under contract with CBS' rival NBC). In 1985, Scott was given a Private Sector Award for Public Service by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.[2] Other awards include:

  • "Distinguished Virginian", Virginia Association of Broadcasters (1990)
  • "Washingtonian of the Year", Washingtonian magazine (1979)
  • "Humanitarian in Residence", National Society of Fund Raisers (1985)
  • "National Partner in 4-H Citations", National 4-H, US Dept of Agriculture (1984)
  • Honorary doctorate from Johnson & Wales University

In 2001, American University reissued some of the old Joy Boys radio broadcasts of the 1960s on CDs. He has also played Santa Claus at various White House events.[15]

Scott spoke at his grandson John Swiatek's graduation at Middleburg Academy in 2011. He was also the guest of honor at his granddaughter's (Sally Marie) graduation at the Madeira School in 2013.

Writings

Scott has published several fiction and non-fiction books:[2]

  • The Joy of Living
  • Down Home Stories
  • Willard Scott’s All-American Cookbook
  • America Is My Neighborhood
  • The Older the Fiddle, the Better the Tune
  • If I Knew It Was Going To Be This Much Fun, I Would Have Become A Grandparent First

He has also co-authored two books with Bill Crider:

  • Murder Under Blue Skies
  • Murder in the Mist

He preached a sermon at the 185th anniversary of his home church, First Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, that was published in Best Sermons 2, edited by James W. Cox [Harper & Row, 1989].[16]

Personal life

Scott was married to Mary Dwyer Scott from 1959 until her death in 2002. The couple had two children, Mary and Sally.[17] On April 1, 2014, at age 80, Scott married Paris Keena, whom he first met in 1977 while she was working at WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. They have been together as a couple since 2003.[18] They now make their home on Sanibel Island, Florida.[19]

Filmography

As himself

As actor

References

  1. ^ a b c Willard Scott, The Joy of Living. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1982 (ISBN 0-698-11130-3).
  2. ^ a b c d "Willard Scott — Weather Reporter and Centenarian". MSNBC. December 10, 2004. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
  3. ^ Marc Fisher, "Washington Comes of Age", The Washington Post, September 13, 1999
  4. ^ Listed References on Wikipedia's "Bozo the Clown" Discussion Page
  5. ^ Schlosser, Eric (2012). Fast food nation: The dark side of the all-American meal (1st Mariner Books ed.). Boston: Mariner Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 41. ISBN 9780547750330. Scott came up with the name Ronald McDonald, and a star was born. Two years later, the McDonald's Corporation introduced Ronald McDonald to the rest of the United States through a major ad campaign. But Willard Scott no longer played the part. He was deemed too overweight; McDonald's wanted someone thinner to sell its burgers, shakes, and fries.
  6. ^ Space For Women (1981, extended edit featuring Willard Scott)
  7. ^ Willard Scott work with NASA from 1970
  8. ^ Willard Scott narrating The Space Story, December 1982
  9. ^ List of NASA Special Reports, Willard Scott credited as announcer/narrator for NASA programs spanning September 1970 – May 1982
  10. ^ Monica Collins "Memo to NBC: We Love Scott" USA Today, March 1, 1989.
  11. ^ Brian Donlon "On Today, it's kiss and make up" USA Today, March 14, 1989.
  12. ^ Kim, Eun Kyung (December 15, 2015). "Willard Scott retires: Anchors say farewell to 'heart and soul' of TODAY". TODAY.com. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "Willard Scott, weather reporter and centenarian birthday greeter". TODAY.com. June 4, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  14. ^ "1981–1988 National Christmas Trees – President's Park (White House) (U.S. National Park Service)". Nps.gov. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  15. ^ "1981–1988 National Christmas Trees". National Park Service : President's Park, White House. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  16. ^ "People in Print". Christianity Today. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  17. ^ "At 80, Willard Scott marries girlfriend".
  18. ^ Miller, Kyle Michael (April 2, 2014). "Willard Scott got married! 'Today' legend weds longtime love". Today. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  19. ^ Cox, Billy Cox (April 22, 2019). "From moon shots to assassination, Russ Ward was there". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
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