Don Kent (meteorologist)
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Don Kent (born, 1920) was a radio and television meteorologist for several decades in the Boston, Massachusetts area. He is notable in that he was the first radio and television metereologist in Boston.[1]
He was raised in Quincy, Massachusetts. He developed and applied his meteorological skills while serving in the US Coast Guard during World War II. After his Coast Guard service, he began his career in 1947 at WJDA in Quincy.[2] While at WJDA, he used the name "Don Dixon". The reason for this was that the family business, Kent's Carpets, was the sponsor of his weather spots. The name change was necessary to hide family involvement in the program.
In 1951, Kent began using his own name on the air when was hired away from WJDA, a weak daytime-only station, by the powerful, clear channel, 50,000 watt WBZ (AM) radio in Boston. He also appeared on WBZ-TV which was then an NBC television network affiliate. He retired in 1985.
He also demonstrated an exemplary Boston accent. He greeted his audiences, saying "Good mahning, ev'rybahdy." Another Kentism was "Pahtly cloudy or sunny".
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[edit] Awards and honors
Kent is one of the first to be inducted to the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame, along with Rex Trailer, Jess Cain, Frank Avruch (Bozo the Clown to Boston television audiences) and Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding (Bob and Ray).[3]
[edit] Bibliography
- "Great New England Storms of the Twentieth Century" (Contributor) Boston: The Boston Globe, 2007 ISBn: 0979013720
[edit] External links
- 2003 interview by Sara Long and Eric Pinder
- Review of "Great New England Storms" book that he contributed to
[edit] Notes
- ^ Don Kent Interview : Boston's First TV Weatherman
- ^ http://www.ericpinder.com/html/donkent.html 2003 interview by Sara Long and Eric Pinder
- ^ Local broadcasting legends honored - The Boston Globe
