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Willard Scott Retiring: Longtime Weatherman Was A ‘Second Dad’ To Al Roker

By David Wangberg
Published on: 17:22 PST, Dec 11, 2015

Fans of The Today Show may not be seeing Willard Scott recognize those across America that are celebrating a 100th birthday after this year, as the longtime journalist has announced that he is retiring.

According to USA Today, the 81-year-old Scott announced on Friday that he would be retiring after working at NBC for 65 years, 35 of which were with Today. Scott’s final day with the network will be this coming Tuesday, December 15.

For the first 16 years in which he worked with Today, Willard Scott served as the morning news program’s weatherman. In 1996, he semi-retired from the position, and that’s when the program’s current weatherman, Al Roker, stepped in as his replacement.

But Willard Scott wasn’t always predicting the weather. His first gig in the journalism industry was as a page for NBC’s Washington, D.C,. affiliate, WRC, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Scott had also worked as a disc jockey for one of the radio stations in the area.

It wasn’t until 1969 that Willard Scott officially became a weatherman for WRC. During his time with the station, Scott met his wife, Mary Dwyer Scott, according to Biography. The couple were married from 1959 until 2002, when Mary lost her battle cancer. They had two children together, Mary and Sally. Scott remarried in 2014 at the age of 80 to longtime partner, Paris Keena, whom he began dating in 2003.

Scott spent 11 years with WRC before being hired by Today in 1980. In 1983, Scott was asked by a viewer if he could wish his mother a happy 100th birthday live on the air. Scott obliged, and it has since become a once or twice-a-week segment on Today. It has not been confirmed if Scott will continue the segment after he retires.

Aside from being a weatherman and journalist, Scott was also the first person to dress up as Ronald McDonald for the McDonald’s television commercials in 1963. Scott was also a co-anchor for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1987 until 1997.

Scott’s fellow Today anchors paid tribute to the longtime journalist by recalling one of the more memorable events to take place on the air. During the inauguaration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989, First Lady Barbara Bush spotted Scott in the crowd of people, ran over to him, and gave him a kiss. During an exclusive interview, Mrs. Bush remembered exactly what happened that day, and explained her reason for giving Scott a kiss as the inauguration parade was taking place.

“Suddenly, I look over and see this very happy face, race over, give that face a kiss, [and] race back to George. He said, ‘I didn’t know you knew Willard Scott.’ I said, ‘I don’t know Willard Scott; I just love that face.'”

Today does plan on having more tributes to Willard Scott on Tuesday, when he officially retires. Fans of the show are encouraged to join the conversation by using the hashtag, #ThankYouWillard, on Twitter. Many fans have already begun to share their favorite memories of Willard Scott. Some recalled the time in which Scott wished their grandparent a happy 100th birthday live on the air.

What’s your favorite Willard Scott memory?

[Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images]

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