Leon Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leon Harris
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Harris in 2014
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| Born | April 20, 1961 |
| Occupation | Journalist and newscaster |
Leon Harris (born April 20, 1961) is a well-known American journalist and newscaster. He currently works for NBC's WRC-TV station in Washington, D.C.. Before this, he was an anchor at CNN in Atlanta and at ABC affiliate WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.
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Early Life and Education
Leon Harris graduated from Buchtel High School in 1979. He earned a special award called a National Merit Scholarship. This helped him attend Ohio University. At the university, he met his wife, Dawn Lomax.
Harris graduated with honors from Ohio University in 1983. He studied communications, which is about how people share information. In 1999, the University gave him an honorary Doctorate degree.
Career Highlights
Harris began his career at CNN's main office in Atlanta in the early 1980s. He started as an unpaid intern while still in college. After graduating in 1983, Harris became a video journalist. He then moved up to assistant director of the satellite department.
In this role, he helped manage satellite services for news coverage. He worked on big events like the Persian Gulf War. He also helped cover international trips by President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush.
Becoming a News Anchor
In 1991, Harris tried out for a news anchor job. A few months later, he became a full-time anchor. He won many Emmy Awards at CNN. These awards were for his reporting on important events. Some of these included the 2000 presidential election, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the September 11th attacks. His last job at CNN was co-anchoring CNN Live Today.
In July 2003, Harris joined WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C. He anchored the 5 o'clock and 11 o'clock newscasts. In 2006, he won a local Emmy award for Best Anchor. His time at WJLA-TV ended in October 2016.
Facing Health Challenges
In 2013, news reports shared that Harris had faced serious health challenges. He had a condition called necrotizing pancreatitis.
In April 2017, Harris joined NBC's WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. He started on April 21. He currently co-anchors News 4 at 4 with Eun Yang. He also reports for News 4 at 11.
In December 2024, NBC4 Washington announced that Harris was taking a break. This was a medical leave of absence to focus on his health.
Personal Life
Leon Harris was born to Leon Sr. and Lorrene Harris in Akron, Ohio. He has three brothers named Marcus, Jerry, and James. They still live in Akron. His sister, Kimberly, lives in Houston.
Harris lives in Avenel, Potomac, Maryland, with his wife, Dawn. Dawn works as a nurse at a local hospital. Leon's son, Darren, lives in Seattle, Washington. His daughter, Lauren, is an early childhood educator in Atlanta, Georgia.
