Birthday Greetings from Willard Scott

Willard Scott - Weather Reporter and Centenarian - Today show

The "Today’s”* ebullient Willard Scott has made mornings much brighter for millions of viewers since he first appeared on the program in March 1980 reporting on the weather. In addition to his current duties as substitute weather reporter, he appears on the program on Tuesdays and Thursdays with his popular 100th birthday centenarian salutes. He joined “Today” after having performed similar duties, beginning in 1968, at WRC-TV, the NBC Television Station in Washington, D.C. advertvertisement.

Scott has traveled with “Today” throughout Europe aboard the Orient Express; to China; to Australia; to South America; on a cruise ship along the eastern seaboard; to Rome during Holy Week; Hawaii; and to the heartland of America on the “Today Express.”

In addition to his many weather telecasts from state fairs, fund-raising events, parades and civic events across the country, Scott, has anchored coverage of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1987, and traditionally appears as Santa Claus at several White House events for children.

Scott has made numerous appearances throughout the country, including at Carnegie Hall in 1989 with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops; at Symphony Hall in 1989, when he narrated “The Night Before Christmas” with the Boston Symphony; at the Palace Theatre with George Abbott; and the Grand Ole Opry. In addition, Scott hosted the Family Channel’s “The New Original Amateur” in 1991. Scott also served as the very first Ronald McDonald.

He began his career with NBC as a page at the Washington station in 1950. At that time he was also a weekend disk jockey for radio station WINX in that city. He joined WOL Radio that same year and, with Ed Walker, formed The Joy Boys broadcast team, moving in 1953 to WRC-AM, the NBC Radio Station in Washington, D.C., and remaining there until 1972. They broadcast from WWDC, Washington, from 1972 to 1974. His weather reports were broadcast on WRC-AM from 1956 until 1972.

Scott has distinguished himself with his public-service efforts, and has been named both Distinguished Virginian by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters (1990) and Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian magazine (1979). He also received the Great American Award from the Bards of Bohemia in New Orleans (1990) and was named Humanitarian in Residence by the National Society of Fund Raisers (1985). In 1985, he was recognized by President Ronald Reagan with the Private Sector Award for Public Service.

Scott is the author of six books, The Joy of Living, Down Home Stories, Willard Scott’s All-American Cookbook, America Is My Neighborhood, Murder Under Blue Skies and Murder in the Mist. He is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., with a B.A. in philosophy and religion. He is married to the former Mary Dwyer, and they are the parents of two daughters, Mary and Sally, and the grandparents of John and Sally Marie. Scott was born March 7, 1934, in Alexandria, Va.

Note*: A CBS network program.