Frank Reynolds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Reynolds
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Reynolds in 1968
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| Born | November 29, 1923 East Chicago, Indiana, U.S.
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| Died | July 20, 1983 (aged 59) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Education | Bishop Noll Institute Wabash College |
| Occupation | Television Journalist |
| Years active | 1949–1983 |
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Notable credit(s)
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ABC World News Tonight |
| Spouse(s) | Henrietta Mary Harpster |
| Children | 5 sons |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Rank |  Staff sergeant |
| Unit | Infantry |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Purple Heart |
Frank James Reynolds (born November 29, 1923 – died July 20, 1983) was a famous American journalist who worked for CBS and ABC News. He was known for his clear and serious way of reporting the news.
Frank Reynolds was a main news anchor for the ABC Evening News in New York City from 1968 to 1970. Later, he became a co-anchor for World News Tonight from 1978 until he passed away in 1983. During the Iran hostage crisis, he started a special news program called America Held Hostage. This show later became Nightline, a well-known news program.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Frank Reynolds was born in East Chicago, Indiana. He went to Bishop Noll Institute and Wabash College. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a staff sergeant in the infantry. For his service, he received the Purple Heart medal, which is given to soldiers wounded in battle.
Starting His Journalism Career
After the war, Frank Reynolds began his career in broadcasting in Indiana. He worked at radio stations like WWCA-AM in Gary and WJOB-AM in Hammond.
He then moved to Chicago and became a television anchor. In 1949, he worked at WBKB, which later became WBBM-TV, a CBS station. He also reported for CBS News from Chicago. In 1963, he joined another station, WBKB (now WLS-TV), which was an ABC station, as their main news anchor. Frank Reynolds officially joined ABC News as a correspondent in 1965.
Becoming a National News Anchor
By 1968, Frank Reynolds became a co-anchor of the ABC evening newscast. He worked alongside Howard K. Smith. In 1970, Harry Reasoner took his place, and Reynolds went back to being a correspondent.
In 1978, after Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters left their anchor roles, Frank Reynolds returned to the main anchor desk. He became the Washington, D.C.-based anchor for the new World News Tonight newscast. He shared this role with co-anchors Max Robinson and Peter Jennings.
Starting Nightline
Frank Reynolds was also the first anchor of "America Held Hostage." This was a series of special reports about the Iran hostage crisis that started in November 1979. These reports aired late at night and eventually grew into the news program Nightline in March 1980. The long hours of anchoring both the evening news and the late-night show were very demanding. Soon, Ted Koppel took over as the main anchor for Nightline.
Reporting on the Reagan Assassination Attempt (1981)
One of the most memorable moments in Frank Reynolds' career happened on March 30, 1981. He was reporting live on the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
During the live broadcast, early reports were confusing. At first, it was thought that President Reagan was not hurt, but his press secretary, James Brady, and others were shot. When new information came in suggesting that President Reagan had also been shot, Reynolds became very upset. He was heard shouting to someone off-screen to "Speak up!" so he could get the correct details.
Later, all three major news networks mistakenly reported that James Brady, who was a close friend of Reynolds, had died. When Frank Reynolds learned that this information was wrong, he was visibly angry. He looked around at his staff and strongly said:
"Let's get it nailed down ...somebody ...let's....find out! Let's get the word here, let's get it straight so we can....we can report this accurately!"
This moment showed his strong commitment to reporting the truth.
Later Years and Passing
Frank Reynolds was diagnosed with a type of cancer called multiple myeloma in early 1983. He had been away from his anchor position since April of that year. He passed away three months later, on July 20, 1983, at the age of 59. His death was caused by acute viral hepatitis, which is a severe liver infection.
He had injured his leg in January while on vacation and fell again in February. X-rays showed a small fracture. He had surgery in March and was diagnosed with hepatitis a month later.
Legacy and Impact
Frank Reynolds' son, Dean Reynolds, also became a journalist. He worked for WGN America NewsNation. Interestingly, it was a report from Dean Reynolds that first corrected the false news about James Brady's death, leading to his father's famous on-air outburst.
Frank Reynolds is also remembered for an optimistic prediction he made during a live broadcast of a solar eclipse of February 26, 1979. He said, "Not until Aug. 21, 2017, will another eclipse be visible from North America, that's 38 years from now. May the shadow of the moon fall on a world at peace."
His last broadcast was on April 20, 1983. Even though his colleagues hoped he would return, he never did. He died from hepatitis-induced liver failure at Sibley Memorial Hospital.
As an Army veteran who was wounded in combat, Frank Reynolds is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Many important people, including President Reagan and his wife Nancy, attended his funeral. In 1985, President Reagan honored him posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian awards in the United States.
Frank Reynolds' voice was even used in music. In 1985, musician Paul Hardcastle used a part of an ABC documentary narrated by Reynolds in his hit song, "19".
Images for kids
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Reynolds in 1968
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Staff sergeant rank insignia
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Frank Reynolds' grave at Arlington National Cemetery
