Dave Garroway | |
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Garroway circa 1970
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Born |
David Cunningham Garroway July 13, 1913 Schenectady, New York, U.S. |
Died | July 21, 1982 Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
(aged 69)
Cause of death | Suicide by gunshot |
Resting place | West Laurel Hill Cemetery |
Nationality | American |
Education | University City High School |
Alma mater | Washington University in St. Louis |
Occupation | Television personality |
Years active | 1938–1982 |
Known for | Host of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1952–1961) Host of Today (1952–1961) Host of Wide Wide World (1955–1958) |
Spouse(s) |
Adele Dwyer (m. 1945–46) Pamela Wilde (m. 1956–61) Sarah Lee Lippincott (m. 1980–82) |
Children | 3 |
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway (July 13, 1913 – July 21, 1982) was an American television personality. He was the founding host and anchor of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing and relaxing style belied a lifelong battle with depression. Garroway has been honored for his contributions to radio and television with a star for each on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the St. Louis Walk of Fame, the city where he spent part of his teenage years and early adulthood.
Born in Schenectady, New York, Garroway was 14 and had moved with his family thirteen times before settling in St. Louis, Missouri, where he attended University City High School and Washington University in St. Louis, from which he earned a degree in abnormal psychology. Before going into broadcasting, Garroway worked as a Harvard University lab assistant, as a book salesman, and as a piston ring salesman. After not being able to successfully sell either, Garroway decided to try his hand in radio.
Garroway began his broadcasting career modestly. Starting at NBC as a page in 1938, he graduated 23rd in a class of 24 from NBC's school for announcers. Following graduation, he landed a job at Pittsburgh radio station KDKA in 1939. As a station reporter, he went about the region filing reports from a hot-air balloon, a U.S. Navy submarine in the Ohio River, and from deep inside a coal mine. His early reporting efforts earned Garroway a reputation for finding a good story, even if it took him to unusual places. The "Roving Announcer", as he was known, worked his way up to become the station's special events director, while still attending to his on-air work. After two years with KDKA, Garroway left for Chicago.