INTRODUCTION EARLY CAREER
Born August 7, 1923 at 7942 S. Harvard, Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Chicago (southwest side), Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale and Elmhurst. Elected to "Boy's State Illinois House of Representatives" in Springfield, Illinois, in 1938. At age 16 was founder and organizer of the DuPage County American Legion Baseball League in DuPage County, Illinois. Attended Fenwick High School, then graduated from York High School in 1941.
Following high school attended Loyola University, Chicago, but left to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps December 12, 1942 serving until honorable discharge February 18, 1946. While in the service attended and was Athletic Director for the U.S. Army at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., where he wrote a "Citadel Sports" column for the Charleston Gazette. Earned pilot's license, and at Chanute Field, Illinois, earned a degree in Meteorology, after which he served in the weather corps of the USAAC.
Following discharge enrolled in broadcasting classes at the Radio Institute of America.
RADIO CAREER
Network announcer in the 1950s for Quaker Oats doing commercials on radio shows including the "Jane Wyman Show" and "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon."
Hosted "The Marriage License Show" from Cook County (IL) Clerk, Richard J. Daley's office from 1951 - 1955 on WGN-AM, and became radio and TV announcer for Daley's political ads in his campaigns for Mayor of Chicago in the elections of 1955 and 1959.
TELEVISION CAREER
Weekly roundtrip air trip from Chicago to New York City in 1950 for live on-air commercials for "Stoppette" product on "What's My Line" TV show on NBC. Radio and television spokesman and commercial announcer for National Food Stores, Walgreens, Sears, Royal Crown Cola, Illinois Bell Telephone, AT&T, Schlitz Beer, Downtown Nash, Dominick's Fine Foods, Van Heusen Menswear, Buster Brown Shoes, United Parcel Service, Chicago White Sox, Zenith Television, K-Mart, Holsum Bread, Amling's Floral, and did the first commercials for many Kellogg's products, White Hen Pantry, Midas Muffler, Jiffy Lube and many more.
Host of TV game show "It's in the Name" on WGN-TV in Chicago.
ABC-TV network announcer 1959 - 1979 including for shows "Monday Night Football", "Monday Night Baseball", and "Wide World of Sports." Provided on-air news anchoring while working 75 consecutive hours November 22 - 24, 1963 following President John F. Kennedy's assassination.
TV News reporter for WBKB-TV Chicago including on-the-street reporting and late-night sign-off news anchor. Suffered serious back injury doing on-the-street reporting New Years Eve celebrating December 31, 1964, when attacked on-air by a man in the crowd at the corner of State and Lake Streets in downtown Chicago.
TEACHING CAREER
Associate Professor at Columbia College in Chicago from 1970 - 1986 teaching classes in radio broadcasting. Re-opened radio station WCSF at St. Francis College, Joliet, Illinois, and taught and headed the radio department there from 1974 - 1986. OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Starting in the late 1940s campaigned on the air for safety belts in all cars, trucks and buses, receiving cease and desist notices from the National Safety Council and AAA, both of whom later on became big supporters of safety belts.
HONORS
PERSONAL
Married Elaine Miller, also of Elmhurst, Illinois, March 14, 1947, and marriage to "the lovely Elaine" lasted 51 years until Elaine's death May 12, 1998. Raised 5 children: Larry (b. 1948), Mike (b. 1950), Debbie (b. 1953, Vickie (b. 1956), and Jeff (b. 1959). REFERENCES