Merri Dee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Merri Dee
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Dee, 2013.
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| Born |
Mary Francine Dorham
October 30, 1936 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | March 16, 2022 (aged 85) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | Xavier University of Louisiana (attended) Midwestern Broadcasting School |
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| Years active | 1966–2022 |
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Notable credit(s)
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| Spouse(s) |
Nicolas Fulop
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 2 |
Merri Dee (born Mary Francine Dorham; October 30, 1936 – March 16, 2022) was an American journalist and a person who helped many charities. She was famous for her work at WGN-TV (Channel 9) in Chicago, Illinois. She worked there as a news anchor and reporter from 1972 to 1983. Later, she became the director of community relations from 1983 to 2008. Merri Dee also led the Illinois chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) from 2009 until she passed away in 2022.
Contents
Merri Dee's Life Story
Early Years and School
Merri Dee was born Mary Francine Dorham in Chicago, Illinois, on October 30, 1936. Her parents were John Blouin, a postal worker, and Ethel Dorham. When her mother died in 1939, Merri Dee was only two years old. She grew up in New Orleans. Her father remarried four years later. Merri Dee was the youngest of six children. She had a difficult childhood and was later sent to an orphanage.
As a teenager, Merri Dee moved back to Chicago. She went to Englewood Technical Prep Academy and finished school in 1955. After high school, she went to Xavier University in New Orleans. She studied business but left college early. She got a job selling things for IBM to help her brothers and sisters. Merri Dee got her first job in radio at station WBEE in Harvey, Illinois.
Career in Radio and TV
In just two years, Merri Dee became a well-known radio personality in Chicago. In 1968, she started hosting an entertainment show. It was on WCIU (channel 26) on Saturday nights. In 1971, Merri Dee became the host of The Merri Dee Show. This was a local talk show on WSNS (channel 44).
On July 17, 1971, Merri Dee and a guest from her show were attacked. The guest died, but Merri Dee survived. She was shot twice but managed to get help. She was taken to a hospital and slowly recovered. Her friend, Reverend Jesse Jackson, even visited her.
After a year of getting better, Merri Dee returned to broadcasting in 1972. She became a news anchor for WGN-TV's 10 p.m. newscast. She worked at WGN-TV for eleven years in different on-air jobs. In 1984, she took a new role behind the scenes. She became the station's director of community development. She also managed WGN-TV Children's Charities. She stayed in this role until she retired in 2008. During her time there, she helped raise $31 million for various charity projects. After retiring, Merri Dee joined the Mayor's Advisory Council on Women for Chicago. She also became a volunteer for the Illinois chapter of AARP. A year later, she was named AARP State President.
Helping Others and Awards
Besides her work in TV and radio, Merri Dee helped many charities and groups. In 1992, she helped write the country's first Victims' Bill of Rights. This law was passed in Illinois. It became a guide for other states to create their own laws to protect victims. She also started a program in Chicago called Athletes for a Better Education.
Merri Dee hosted the United Negro College Fund's "Evening of Stars" fundraiser for over twenty years. She also hosted telethons to help Easter Seals. Merri Dee created a special TV segment called "The Waiting Child." This segment, shown on WGN-TV, featured children in foster care who needed adoptive homes. This project earned her many awards. In 2004, she received the Adoption Excellence Award. This award came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In 1998, the governor of Illinois, Jim Edgar, praised Merri Dee and WGN-TV. Their work helped increase adoptions in the state by 50 percent. In 2000, Lewis University gave her an honorary Doctorate degree. The next year, she won the Silver Circle Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The University of Illinois also gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. In 2004, she received a President's Award from the United Negro College Fund.
Merri Dee was also on the board for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. She served on the board for Junior Achievement Worldwide and the Associated Colleges of Illinois. She was also a board member for The National College Summit. In January 2011, Merri Dee was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the National Association of Black Journalists.
Personal Life
Merri Dee was married twice and had two children. Her first marriage was when she was a teenager. From this marriage, she had a daughter named Toya Monet. Merri Dee married her second husband, Nicolas Fulop, in 1999. They were married until she passed away in 2022. Besides her daughter, Merri Dee also had an adopted son, Richard H. Wright.
Merri Dee passed away on March 16, 2022. Her family said she died peacefully in her sleep at home.
