Ron Penfound

Ron Penfound
Penfound as Captain Penny
Born	Ronald A. Penfound (1927-01-28)January 28, 1927 Elyria, Ohio, U.S.
Died	September 16, 1974(1974-09-16) (aged 47) Naples, Florida, U.S.
Cause of death	Lung cancer
Occupation	TV sports anchor Radio announcer Floorman
Years active	1950–1974
Spouse(s)	Gail Gilmore (married 1951–1959, divorced) Phyllis Yoder Hunter (married 1960–1964, her death) Jo Ann Dudas (married 1967–1974, his death)
Children	Amy Penfound (with Gilmore) Tracy and Matthew Penfound (with Hunter) Julie and Samantha Penfound (with Dudas)

Ronald A. Penfound was a local television personality in the Cleveland, Ohio market, specifically on WEWS-TV channel 5 where from 1955 to 1971 he hosted an afternoon program for children. As host, he was known as Captain Penny and was attired in railroad engineer clothing.

Ron Penfound was born on January 28, 1927 in Elyria, Ohio, to Archie and Marjorie (Saywell) Penfound, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He attended Kenyon College and was a classmate of actor Paul Newman. He had originally planned to become an Episcopal priest, but then transferred to study broadcasting at the University of Denver.

Penfound worked as a radio announcer at KLMR in Lamar, Colorado, while attending school (1950). He was an announcer for KVOD in Denver before returning to Elyria as news and sports director at WEOL radio. He also worked at Cleveland radio station WERE as an announcer and salesman.

On April 26, 1953, Penfound was hired as a sports announcer and floorman for WEWS-TV, and began hosting the Captain Penny program on March 2, 1955. During the course of its 16 years on the air, the show featured old cartoons, along with Little Rascals and Three Stooges shorts. In addition, there were live appearances by Captain Penny and a variety of guests. Following a 1961 appearance by actor Chuck Connors, Penfound was given a small role in Connors' show, The Rifleman, in the fourth-season episode, "The Princess".

During the holiday season, the character of Mr. Jingeling, played by the show's producer, Earl Keyes, would appear. Throughout the year, a feature of the daily program was on a certain day of the week, Captain would present animals from the Cuyahoga County Animal Protective League available for adoption. The segment was known as Captain Penny’s Pooch Parade.