Willard Scott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willard Scott
Scott in 1995
Born	Willard Herman Scott Jr. (1934-03-07)March 7, 1934 Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Died	September 4, 2021(2021-09-04) (aged 87) Delaplane, Virginia, U.S.
Education	American University
Occupation	Weather presenter author television personality actor clown comedian narrator radio personality
Years active	1950–2015
Notable work	Weather Reporter on Today Creator and original portrayer of Ronald McDonald Joy Boys Radio Program Birthday greetings for centenarians Narrator of NASA TV programs
Spouse(s)	Mary Dwyer Scott ​ ​ (m. 1959; died 2002)​ Paris Keena ​ ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	2

Willard Herman Scott Jr. (born March 7, 1934 – died September 4, 2021) was a famous American weather presenter, TV star, actor, and author. He worked in broadcasting for 68 years, with 65 of those years at the NBC network. Willard Scott is best known for being the weather reporter on NBC's Today. On the show, he also celebrated the birthdays of people turning 100 years old. A fun fact about Willard Scott is that he created and was the very first person to play Ronald McDonald, the famous clown mascot for McDonald's.

The New York Times newspaper described Scott as a "larger-than-life American Everyman." He was known for his friendly, talkative style and often wore funny hats or flowers on his jacket. Willard Scott used his fame as a weather presenter to become a very successful spokesperson for many products. He once said, "I run me like a conglomerate, because that's what I am. I always keep lots of balls in the air."

Scott believed his success came from making everyone feel loved. He said, "I want to make the whole country feel as if we are one." His friend, radio host Johnny Holliday, added that Willard "made everybody feel special." In his book The Joy of Living, Scott wrote, "If you were to look at my resume, you’d see that I’m ...bald, I’m overweight, I don’t make all the smooth moves and I dress like a slob. I take tremendous pride in the fact that I beat the system."

Early Life and Education

Willard Scott in high school

Willard Scott was born on March 7, 1934, in Alexandria, Virginia. He was the only child of Willard Herman and Mattie Thelma Scott. He grew up as a fundamentalist Christian and even thought about becoming a minister before starting his career in broadcasting.

Childhood Interest in Broadcasting

Willard showed an early love for broadcasting. When he was eight, his mom took him to a radio station. He met a famous reporter named Eric Sevareid and was amazed by his stories.

At age nine, Scott started his own radio club with 15 friends in his basement. He built a small radio station and sold ads to local businesses. They made about $25 a month! However, the FCC (the government group that controls radio signals) found out their signal was reaching National Airport. So, his basement station had to close.

As a teenager, Scott spent time at a local radio station, WPIK-AM. He even got to create and announce his own radio show called “Lady Make Believe.” He also worked part-time as a disk jockey for two other high school radio shows.

NBC Radio Announcer at 16

In 1950, when he was just 16, Scott worked as a page (like an assistant) at WRC (AM), an NBC radio station in Washington, D.C. He earned $12 a week. He explained that he filled in for an announcer who went on vacation. When that announcer returned, Scott became a regular substitute.

High School and College

Scott went to George Washington High School in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1947, as a freshman, he reported high school news on a local FM radio station every Saturday. He graduated in 1951 and was elected Class President all four years. His classmates voted him "Most Likely to Succeed."

Scott then attended American University. There, he worked at the university's radio station, WAMU-AM, with his friend Ed Walker. Scott joined the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and graduated in 1955. He earned a degree in "philosophy and religion."

Broadcast Radio Career

The Joy Boys Radio Show

From 1955 to 1972, Scott and Ed Walker hosted a nightly radio show called Joy Boys on WRC radio. This was interrupted for two years (1956-1958) when Scott served in the U.S. Navy. Scott would create ideas for characters and situations, and Walker, who was blind, would remember them or write notes in Braille.

The show started with Scott and Walker singing their Joy Boys theme song: We are the Joy Boys of radio; We chase electrons to and fro-o-o. We are the Joy Boys of radio; We chase electrons to and fro.

A 1999 article in Washington Post said the Joy Boys show was very popular in the mid-1960s. It "dominated Washington, providing entertainment, companionship, and community." The show moved to another station, WWDC-AM, for two more years before ending. Scott wrote that he and Walker were "closer than most brothers" until Walker's death in 2015.

After the Joy Boys show ended, Scott became a popular personality in Washington D.C. He did many product advertisements and appeared at special events.

Early Broadcast Television Career

Children's Programs: Great Training for TV Success

Scott believed that working on children's shows helped him become a successful TV personality. He said, "The best training to be a TV newsman or anybody on television is to do a children’s show." He felt it helped him feel comfortable in front of the camera and connect with his audience.

Barn Party

Willard Scott's first TV appearance for kids was on WNBW TV's Barn Party in 1954. He played "Farmer Willard" and worked with a lady named Betsy Stelck. The show was very popular, getting thousands of requests for tickets to be in the studio audience.

Afternoon

In 1955, Scott was a co-host on Afternoon, a variety show on WRC-TV. The show had live music, singers, and even Jim Henson's puppet group, Sam and Friends. This was an early version of the famous Muppets! Scott remembered working with a bald Muppet named Sam and a frog named Kermit. He even did a peanut butter commercial with Kermit.

Commander Retro

Scott created and hosted a children's show in 1966 called Commander Retro. He said it was "The worst show I did in my life... but it was more fun to do than any of them." Scott played the commander of a spaceship. His basset hound dog, Lester, played "Doctor Strangedog," a talking dog who was a spy. The spaceship set was made from plastic ice cube trays and blinking Christmas lights.

Bozo the Clown

Scott played Bozo the Clown on WRC-TV's show Bozo's Circus from 1959 to 1962. He even met President JFK and his daughter Caroline while dressed as Bozo. McDonald's restaurants in Washington, D.C., hired Scott as Bozo to attract customers. When he appeared, he caused huge traffic jams with thousands of kids coming to see him. The show was canceled in 1962.

Created Ronald McDonald, the Hamburger-Happy Clown

After the Bozo the Clown show ended, McDonald's in Washington D.C. wanted another clown to bring in customers. They asked Willard Scott to create a new character. Scott said, "So, I sat down and created Ronald McDonald."

Willard Scott's first Ronald McDonald costume was unique. He wore a small paper cup on his nose, a cardboard food tray as a hat, and another tray with a full McDonald's meal on his pants. This meal "magically" replaced the hamburger when one disappeared. Scott played Ronald McDonald from 1963 to 1967. He appeared in three TV commercials and narrated a special Christmas record.

Later, McDonald's corporation took over the Ronald McDonald character. Scott was replaced by a new clown actor, Coco, just before the 1966 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Some people claimed McDonald's replaced Scott because of his weight, but Scott said it was due to his other work commitments.

The Ronald Show

In 1966, Scott continued to play Ronald McDonald in the Washington D.C. area on a new WRC-TV show called The Ronald Show. The show had a studio audience of 30 young people each Saturday. They played games, performed skits, and interacted with Scott as Ronald. Scott called it "One of those magnificent rare treasures."

Weather Presenter Career

Willard Scott's career as a weathercaster began in 1967 at WRC-TV. He filled in for the weatherman who suddenly left. By 1970, Scott became the full-time weekday weatherman for WRC-TV. In March 1980, NBC asked him to become the weatherman for TODAY, replacing Bob Ryan.

The Today Show

Willard Scott near his home in The Plains, Virginia in 1989

Willard Scott joined NBC's The Today Show in 1980. At that time, Today was in a tough competition with ABC's Good Morning America. Scott quickly became popular with viewers. He often dressed up as different characters for his weather segments, like the pop singer Boy George. His funny actions helped Today become the top-rated morning show again.

During the 1980s, Scott often reported the weather from different places across the country. He would interview local people at festivals and famous landmarks. He also sometimes did his weather reports from Washington, D.C., which he still considered his home.

Appearance as Carmen Miranda

Scott once dressed up as the singer Carmen Miranda to sell war bonds during World War II. He promised to do it again on Today if someone donated $1,000 to the USO (a group that supports military members). The donation was made, and on August 22, 1983, Scott gave his weather forecast dressed in a bright tropical dress, jewelry, and a big, colorful headdress. Two flamenco musicians played music during his report.

In 1987, Scott told the New York Times that people called him a "buffoon" for doing it. He said, "Well, all my life I've been a buffoon. That's my act." He explained his love for his audience, saying, "I just love people."

Smucker's Birthday Segments

In 1983, Scott started celebrating the birthdays of people turning 100 years old on Today. He began by mentioning one person, and soon, many requests came in. Eventually, Smucker's sponsored this segment. They showed each person’s photo and name on a Smucker's strawberry jelly jar label. When Scott passed away, Smucker’s honored him by putting his face on a jelly jar label graphic.

Commercial Pitchman

Willard Scott was a spokesperson for many companies. In 1992, he even recorded a commercial for McDonald's competitor, Burger King. He also appeared in commercials for the Days Inn hotel chain from 1993 to 1997. Other companies he worked with included Howard Johnson Motor Lodges, True Value Hardware, Lipton tea, and Diet Coke.

Later Broadcast Television Career

Willard Scott's Home and Garden Almanac

In 1995, Scott hosted one of the first weekly shows on the new cable TV channel, Home & Garden Television. The show ran for two years.

Actor

Scott made guest appearances as a neighbor named "Mr. Poole" on the TV show The Hogan Family.

Voice-over and Narration Career

NASA

Willard Scott was the narrator for NASA's weekly program called "The Space Story." He worked on this program from the Apollo Program all the way through the Space Shuttle era.

Other TV Work

Willard Scott at the 1990 Emmy Awards

Personal Appearances and TV Commentator Career

Scott hosted the TV coverage of the Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade in Louisville, Kentucky from 1982 to 2005. He also hosted the NBC broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1987 to 1997. He was replaced by Matt Lauer in 1998.

For several years in the 1980s, Scott dressed as Santa Claus for the National Tree-Lighting Ceremony in Washington, D.C. He also hosted the Pillsbury Bake-Off on CBS in 1990 and 1992.

Military Service

Willard Scott joined the U.S. Navy and served from 1956 to 1958 as a seaman. He was 22 years old when he enlisted.

Retirement

Willard Scott went into semi-retirement in early 1996. Al Roker took over his main weather duties on Today. Scott had helped Roker get a weather job at another NBC station earlier in his career.

Scott continued to appear on Today two days a week to wish centenarians a happy birthday. This tradition still continues today. He often appeared from the studio of WBBH, the NBC station in Fort Myers, Florida. Scott also filled in for Al Roker for over ten years.

Willard Scott officially announced his full retirement from television on December 11, 2015. On his last day, Today held a special tribute to him. The plaza outside Rockefeller Center in New York City was even renamed Willard Scott Way in his honor. Many former Today staff members, like Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric, came to say goodbye. After being celebrated, Scott said, "I'm fading off into the sunset" and sang the song "Happy Trails."

Awards

Radio Reissues and Santa Claus

In 2001, American University reissued some of the old Joy Boys radio broadcasts from the 1960s on CDs. Willard Scott also played Santa Claus at various events at the White House.

Writings

Willard Scott wrote several books, including both fiction and non-fiction:

• 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 also wrote two mystery books with Bill Crider:

• Murder Under Blue Skies
• Murder in the Mist

A sermon he gave at his home church was published in a book called Best Sermons 2.

Personal Life

Willard Scott was married to Mary Dwyer Scott from 1959 until she passed away in 2002. They had two children, Mary and Sally. On April 1, 2014, when he was 80 years old, Scott married Paris Keena. He first met her in 1977 when she worked at WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.. They had been a couple since 2003. They lived on Sanibel Island, Florida.

Death

Willard Scott passed away peacefully from natural causes on September 4, 2021, at the age of 87.

Filmography

As Himself

• Pillsbury Bake-Off (1990–1992) – Host
• Walt Disney World 4 July Spectacular (1988) – Himself
• The New Hollywood Squares (1987) – Himself
• Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade (1982-2005) - Host
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1987–1997) – Host
• The Bob Braun Show (1982) – Himself
• Today (1980–2015) – Himself

As Actor

• Bozo the Clown (1959–1962) – Bozo the Clown
• Ronald McDonald (1963–1965)
• The Hogan Family (1987–1989) – Peter Poole

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See also

In Spanish: Willard Scott para niños