As I read the news of Walter Cronkite’s passing at 92 I thought about what a full, productive, and important life he led. Uncle Walter’s voice narrated nearly all the major events of my youth. His time as the on-air presence of CBS television news spanned the early years of John F. Kennedy’s presidency to the beginning of Ronald Reagan’s, and literally everything in between. Forty years ago this week he chronicled man’s first steps on another planet, wow talk about a worldwide story. In April of 1962 he took over the 15 min. CBS Evening News from Douglas Edwards, who was second place to NBC’s Huntley Brinkley Report. I remember watching in Sept. 1963 when he delivered the first half hour Network Newscast, and the term “News Anchorman” was coined to describe him. By the late 60’s he was not only # 1 in the ratings, but on his way to the much deserved title of “Most Trusted Man in America”. In the early 70’s he had attracted more viewers than his competition combined. His warm delivery and what seemed to be an effortless style helped Walter Cronkite become a broadcasting industry Icon. When we tuned in the CBS News every word from his mouth came from his own typewriter, unlike most of today’s reporters he wrote what he read. To Walter Cronkite getting the story right was even more important than getting it on the air first. He was proud to be a “Broadcast Journalist” and has set the bar pretty high for future generations. In today’s world of instant communication, and unfortunately instant gratification it sometimes seems to be all about the “Cult of Personality” whether the commentator is what I like to call a “Hand-Wringer”, or a “Shouter”. Fortunately there are still followers of real journalism out there trying to just give us the important information we need. How wonderful that we were blessed with such a shinning example of what it should be like to simply report the news. He was truly an inspiration for all Americans in, or outside of Broadcasting. :- )