Posted on 10/17/2006 7:12:46 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
NORWALK, Conn. - Christopher Glenn, a longtime CBS news correspondent who anchored coverage of the space shuttle Challenger explosion and was the voice of the children's program "In the News" in 1970s and 80s, has died. He was 68.
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Glenn died Tuesday of liver cancer in Norwalk Hospital less than three weeks before his induction into the Radio Hall of Fame, the network said.
The award-winning newsman retired in February after 35 years with CBS. His distinctive voice was familiar to those who remember the Emmy-award winning "In the News." The 2 1/2-minute feature on one topic was broadcast every half hour during Saturday children's programming on CBS. It debuted in September 1971 and ran for 5,000 episodes over 13 seasons.
He anchored and reported on many national stories including space shuttle missions and served as a floor reporter at national political conventions.
It was Glenn who anchored the Jan. 28, 1986, launch of the doomed shuttle Challenger and delivered an anguished commentary as the spacecraft exploded shortly after lift off.
"This flight, which was to have been such a bright chapter in the history of the manned space flight program, turning in the flash of an instant into a terrible, terrible tragedy," he said.
He also became the anchor for the CBS "World New Roundup" in 1999 after spending 11 years in a similar capacity for "The World Tonight."
Glenn garnered many national awards, the latest in 2005 when he won the Radio Television News Directors Edward R. Murrow award for best newscast. He will be enshrined on Nov. 4 into the Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago.
Born in New York City, Glenn was raised in Irvington, N.Y. He received a bachelors degree in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1959.
He is survived by his wife, Dianne, two daughters and a sister.
A memorial service will be held at a later date, said CBS spokesman Kevin Tedesco.
Aw gee. He had a great voice.
CBS) Veteran CBS News correspondent Christopher Glenn, who retired earlier this year, has died, CBS News reports. He was 68.
Glenn died suddenly in a hospital in Norwalk, Conn.
Glenn had retired in February after a 35 years as an integral part of CBS News.
Most recently the anchor of CBS Radio's flagship newscast, The World News Round-Up, the longest-running news program in broadcasting, Glenn had "done just about everything there is to do, from producing to writing to reporting in the field and anchoring and writing inside."
He began anchoring WNR in April 1999, after 11 years as the anchor of The World Tonight, the original CBS News evening broadcast and now called World News Round-Up Late Edition.
Glenn and WNR producer Paul Farry won a Radio Television News Directors Association award last year for "best newscast."
What was his favorite role at CBS News?
"I would be hard-pressed to say. I've had a great deal of enjoyment from the jobs that took me into the field as a reporter, but I've also very much enjoyed being an anchor the last 10-15 years of my career," he told CBSNews.com upon his retirement.
In addition to two editions of the Round-Up, Glenn also wrote and anchored several hourly newscasts each day.
Glenn produced, wrote and narrated the daily CBS Radio Network broadcast What's in the News since its inception in 1995. He also anchored and reported coverage of dozens of space shuttle missions, national political conventions and many other major news stories.
One of those space shuttle missions was particularly memorable, he said.
"Definitely being there when Challenger blew up in front of my face in 1986. (audio) I had to get back on the air real fast to describe that, and had a very difficult time doing that," he recalled. "It was a very, very emotional moment — probably the most emotional of my career. It was tough to keep it under control while I was doing the broadcast."
On a happier note, another memorable time was the 1984 Democratic national convention, when Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman vice presidential candidate. "People standing up, locking arms and rocking back and forth, and singing and cheering and clapping ..."
Another thread (not a duplicate, I'm no thread cop, just sharing info) here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1721143/posts
You're right . . . one of the defining voices in the radio industry.
He was one of the top voices in broadcasting. Up there with Ken Nordine, Franklin McCormack and a list too long for this post.
I loved "In the News".
Memory Lane for those who can't place his voice...
http://www.quartzcity.net/~chris/blogpicts/in_the_news.mp3
Him and Scott Muni were HUGE influences in my early radio career...loved their voices...always made you feel warm inside and comfortable listening to them discuss anything.
He did have a great voice....god rest his soul.
It really took me back.Too many of today's news anchors sound like "girly boys" (as Ahnold would say).
Who can forget his voice the day of the Challenger explosion? Unforgettable.
The affiliate here in San Antonio played his broadcast of the Challenger. I had the same sick feeling today as I did in high school hearing it with my best friend David. God rest. You're forever burned in my mind.
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Aw man. I was in middle school when the Challenger exploded and our class listened to Glenn's commentary. Glenn had one of the best voices in the news, he reminded me of Philadelphia (and the voice of NFL Films) John Facenda a little. Prayers for Glenn. Liver cancer is horrible.
Rest in peace, Mr. Glenn. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
tremendous voice....I can hear it now in my head...
a sad loss, his great voice will be missed...
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