Saturday, April 15, 2006

When I Was A Kid, I Wanted To Be Hugh Downs


.. so it was really fun to read this Arizona Republic recap of Downs' (who is 85) talk last Wednesday for more than 200 people at the Peoria (Arizona) Chamber of Commerce's luncheon at Arrowhead Country Club, not far from his home.

He shared several stories about his life and career:

* While at the South Pole in 1982, he walked around the world in 24 steps, each one in a different time zone.

* His father told him to look for a job in his hometown of Lima, Ohio. One day, he passed by a bank with a radio station in the building and saw they were hosting auditions for radio announcers. He read a commercial on the air, and a station announcer told him he did a terrible job. But he had faith that Downs would improve and hired him for $12.50 a week.

* In typical Downs fashion, he made the talk to do a political endorsement. I have always admired this side of Hugh Downs, who has spent his life trying to do work that matters.

Who did YOU want to be when you grew up? Click on "comments" below and tell YOUR tale! I'd love to hear it.

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