Charles Kuralt -- 1934-1997

July 4th, 1997
I cried a little this morning.
A small piece of you and me died early today with the passing of Charles Kuralt.
He was a class act in a no class business. He's been sorely missed since he retired and he'll now be sorely missed because he is gone.
Why is the passing of Charles Kuralt a big deal?? If you ever watched the "Sunday Morning" show on CBS, or any of the "On the Road" series that he hosted for the same network, you wouldn't have to ask that question.
Charles Kuralt marched to a different drummer, and blazed a trail in Journalism and probably life that has not been walked upon since he passed by on his journey. Do you know of anyone in the business that has the same class act that Charles Kuralt had?? I can't think of any, and I don't know any that would be offended by that comment.
Journalism used to be an "honorable" profession. Today everything is tabloid. Accuracy taking a back seat to getting something that resembles a story, but could be and sometimes is total fiction. Gotta scoop the next guy, and it doesn't matter whom you trample over to get the story.....Dig the dirt, spread the sleaze and do it with self righteous indignation. They'll sink to any depths to "get the story".
Charles Kuralt wouldn't stoop to those depths. He didn't need to.
When I was learning Journalism, everyone wanted to be Bob Woodword and Carl Bernstein. (I guess that kind of dates me doesn't it.) It was during the Watergate era. The era when journalism as a career path started to unravel and become a big slimeball game of one up. It always was a game of one up, but now it was getting real serious.
Charles Kuralt was above all that and sent in some of the most moving reports of our era. From Vietnam. From the South during the civil rights movement and the two aforementioned series to name but a very few.
Charles Kuralt was like our national conscience.
Stories about individuals, not incidents. People, not politics.
If you ever have the opportunity to view the A&E networks "Biography" on Charles Kuralt, take it. You can thank me later. It is an excellent commentary on a wonderful man that will be sorely missed by thoughtful people everywhere.
Bon Voyage, Charles. See ya next trip!!!
Oh. And Charles......
Thanks!!!!

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*** Last updated: 22 Aug., 1997 ***