Bill Kurtis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bill Kurtis | ||
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| Birth name | Bill Kuretich | |
| Born | September 21, 1940 | |
| Birth place | Pensacola, Florida | |
| Circumstances | ||
| Occupation | television journalist and producer | |
| Ethnicity | Croatian | |
| Notable credit(s) | The CBS Morning News, Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files | |
Bill Kurtis (born September 21, 1940) is a television journalist, producer, well-known former CBS News anchor and current host of A&E crime and news documentary shows, including Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files. Previously, he anchored CBS Morning News and was a popular news anchor of the CBS affiliate in Chicago.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Kurtis was born Bill Kuretich in Pensacola, Florida to Wilma Mary (Horton) and William A. Kurtis,[1] a Marine Corps General and decorated veteran of D-Day.[2] His father's military career resulted in extensive travel for the family. When they settled down, he was raised in Independence, Kansas.
In college, Bill Kurtis was an announcer for KIND-AM, a commercial station he is currently part owner of. He graduated from The University of Kansas with a B.S. in Journalism in 1962 and went on to earn his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in 1966. Despite passing the Kansas bar examination and winning a job with a Wichita law firm, Kurtis decided on a career in journalism.
[edit] Television career
Kurtis began his television career as a full time anchor at WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. On the evening of June 8, 1966, a severe thunderstorm 20 miles (32 km) southwest of town was heading straight towards Topeka. Bill warned: "For God's sake, take cover." He remained on the air for 24 straight hours to cover the destruction. This warning became synonymous with the 1966 Topeka tornado that left 16 dead and injured hundreds more. It was also Kurtis' big break.
He moved to Chicago in 1966 to work at WBBM-TV's Channel 2 News Chicago, first as a reporter and then as an anchorman. In 1982, he moved to New York to anchor the CBS Morning News, but returned to Chicago three years later to produce documentaries for the television show The New Explorers. He also returned to WBBM-TV at that time and worked as an anchorman there until 1996. He started his own production company, Kurtis Productions in 1990, and joined the A&E cable television network the following year. He is frequently shown on A&E as the host and narrator of Cold Case Files and American Justice.
Kurtis has received numerous awards for his television work, including over twenty Emmys and the Illinois Broadcasters Association 1998 Hall of Fame Award and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters 2003 Hall of Fame Award.[3]
Bill Kurtis served as the narrator in the Will Ferrell comedy film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Kurtis also contributed a spoken word intro to the Dandy Warhols' 2005 album Odditorium or Warlords of Mars.
[edit] Personal life
Kurtis and his longtime partner, Donna La Pietra, are very active on the Chicago social circuit, supporting numerous non-profit organizations.[4] Kurtis has also done several public service announcements including RFB&D (Recording For The Blind and Dyslexic)
Since 2005, Kurtis has become heavily involved in raising and marketing grass-fed beef. His ranch was once the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder.[5] While looking for innovative uses for his 10,000-acre (40 km²) ranch in Southeastern Kansas, Kurtis learned about the health and environmental benefits of grass-fed beef and founded Tallgrass Beef Company.[6]
[edit] Writing Credits
- Bill Kurtis on Assignment published October 1, 1983 (out of print) by Rand McNally; ISBN 0-528-81005-7
- American Justice published August 1, 1999 by TV Books Inc.; ISBN 1-57500-109-8
- The Death Penalty On Trial: Crisis in American Justice about the death penalty was published November 30, 2004 by PublicAffairs; ISBN 1-58648-169-X
[edit] In popular culture
In episode 406 and 803 of the animated television series South Park the boys play the "Investigative Reports with Bill Kurtis" board game.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Bill Kurtis at the Internet Movie Database
- Tallgrass Beef Company
- A Bill Kurtis Tribute
- A&E American Justice
- A&E Cold Case Files
- Illinois Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame
- Community College Alumni Profile
- Biography for his May 14, 2005 commencement address at Washburn University
