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Posted February 1, 2007
Harry Reasoner was one of the most famous faces in television, one of the original correspondents on 60 Minutes, his unflappable manner and droll sense of humor made him one of the most popular television personalities of his time.
Reasoner was born in Dakota City April 17, 1923, where his parents were teachers. He also lived in Napier and Varina but spent most summer with relatives in Humboldt. His family eventually moved to
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Unflappable newsman Harry Reasoner
Minneapolis and he studied journalism at the University of Minnesota as well as Stanford University. He died on August 6, 1991.
Reasoner served in World War II and then took a job at the now-defunct Minneapolis Times. After going into radio with CBS in 1948, Reasoner worked for the United States Information Agency in the Philippines. When he returned stateside, he went into television and worked at a station in Minneapolis. Reasoner eventually found his way to New York, where he hosted a morning news program called Calendar on top of doing commentary and special news narration duties.
Reasoner's greatest contribution to television news reporting came in 1968, when he teamed up with Mike Wallace to begin the 60 Minutes newsmagazine series, a gig he expected would last a few years. Reasoner joined ABC in 1970 as co-anchor with Howard K. Smith of the ABC Evening News until 1975 when Reasoner became sole anchor. From 1976 until 1978 Reasoner co-anchored the news with Barbara Walters. Walters and Reasoner did not enjoy a close
Newsman Harry Reasoner
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relationship; Reasoner not only didn't like sharing the spotlight with a co-anchor but was uncomfortable with Walters' celebrity status. The disastrous arrangement ended in 1978. Reasoner returned to CBS and remained at the network until he retired in May 1991.
The broadcaster won several Emmy Awards during his career, one as outstanding TV broadcaster for 1973-1974. He also won a Peabody Award in 1966 for outstanding achievements.
Reasoner was married twice, to Kathleen Carroll Reasoner for 34 years and then to Lois Harriett Weber. He had seven children by his first marriage. Reasoner died three months after his retirement at the age of 68 from a blood clot in the brain received from a fall at his home in Westport, Connecticut. He is interred at Union Cemetery in Humboldt, Iowa.
He death was mourned by fans across the country; an editorial cartoon the day after his death showed Reasoner arriving at the Pearly Gates, with a startled St. Peter crying, "Oh, no! It's 60 Minutes!"
He is buried at the Union Cemetery in Humboldt.