Later, Willard

     The recent passing of Willard Scott brought back a few memories.  Yes, he was best known for being the weatherman on The TODAY Show, which originates from New York.  Willard, however, was a Washington guy through and through.

    Born just over the line in Alexandria, Virginia, Willard graduated from American University in the mid-1950’s.  Even prior to that, he began his 65-year career with NBC as a 16 year-old page at the network’s radio station in Washington.   Later, in television’s early days, Willard worked in those studios, as well.  When Eleanor Roosevelt arrived one Sunday morning for an appearance on Meet the Press, she handed him her coat as she prepared to be interviewed.  During the broadcast, Willard was dispatched on an errand away from the studio.  When it was time for Ms. Roosevelt to leave, he was nowhere to be found and no one had any idea where he stored her coat.  The former First Lady and U.N. Ambassador was not amused, but Willard eventually returned and her coat was retrieved.

    My first awareness of Willard was when he was on TV himself in the role of Bozo the Clown on a weekday show in the early 1960’s.  He hosted local children, showed cartoons, had guests, and generally entertained with silly antics and routines.  I recall one day when Superman appeared on the show and tore a telephone book in half.  At some point, Willard became the first person to appear on TV as Ronald McDonald in local ads for the burgeoning fast food chain.

    Willard and his college friend Ed Walker began a radio show during their American University days, and it eventually became a staple on WRC, the local NBC radio affiliate.  Eddie was blind and read from Braille scripts, as The Joy Boys  voiced various characters for their comedy bits, played records, and aired ads for local businesses, often with their own comments.  The show lasted some 20 years, and for a good while I was a regular listener.

    When my brother Dave was attending American University he got a weekend job with NBC News.  The offices and studios were located in the same building as WRC, just a few blocks from campus.  During his time there, Dave became well-acquainted with Willard and Eddie. On a few occasions I was in the radio studio during The Joy Boys broadcast, and also was with Willard at other times.  I can attest that with him, what you saw was what you got.  His on-air persona was no different from who he was in person:  joyous, lively, funny, and loud.

    For a few years during his Joy Boys days Willard also did the weather reports on the local Washington evening news at WRC.  Costumes and gimmicks often were part of his reports.  At some point, The TODAY Show came calling and Willard switched places with Bob Ryan who was the TODAY weatherman. So, of course, that meant a move to New York and the end of The Joy Boys. 

    Willard took his act with him, to the delight of many viewers of TODAY,  although co-host Bryant Gumbel proved not to be a fan.  Eventually, Willard scaled back his appearances on the show, and worked out of Washington for a few more years still doing the bit of spotlighting people who turned 100 years old, showing their faces on jars of sponsor Smucker’s Jam.  People still loved Willard.

    Meanwhile, Eddie Walker continued with various radio gigs around Washington until it all dried up for him.  At that point, Willard hired his old pal to work in his Washington NBC office, giving him an income until he finally retired.

    Willard Scott became a well-known national media figure in his lifetime, but to me he was a homeboy with a big personality and even bigger heart.