Hugh Downs
Hugh Downs, one of the most familiar American television figures in the history of the medium, was the host of ABC News' 20/20, the prime-time weekly newsmagazine program, for over 20 years.
In addition to his role as host, Mr. Hugh Downs went into the field to report news features for 20/20 and to profile important personalities. He prefered to concentrate on issues of science, medicine, aging, adventure, the fine arts and family. He also providedcommentary in connection with various 20/20 reports.
Some of Mr. Downs' most recent segments included a report on the groundbreaking scientific discovery of telomerase, an "immortalizing enzyme" which in lab tests increased the lifespan of human cells by 40-50% a profile of Cara Dunne, a courageous young woman who overcame blindness to become a world-class (and Olympic) athlete, including a reunion with the pediatrician who took her sight as a precaution against cancer a repot on turbulence, one of the leading causes of passenger injuries during airline flights and a revealing look at the short-term memory loss associated with aging and how it can be prevented.
In April, 1996, Mr. Hugh Downs reported on one of the most personal stories in his career: His successful double knee-replacement surgery, performed at Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital on January 27, and his amazing recovery from the procedure. Mr. Hugh Downs, who detailed his experience of the innovative operation in a 20/20 report, returned to work two weeks after the surgery.
A selection of Mr. Hugh Downs' widely acclaimed adventure stories and travels around the globe -- trademarks of his 14 years with the broadcast -- was a special segment included in a two-hour retrospective program in 1988, marking the tenth anniversary of 20/20. Mr. Hugh Downs also reported on one of the most important medical breakthroughs - Vitamin A therapy, used to reverse nutritional blindness in children. A recent adventure was diving in a cage off the coast of Australia to film the Great White Shark.
In 1990, Mr. Downs anchored a one-hour ABC News Special, "Depression: Beyond the Darkness," which focused on the devastating illness that afflicts as many as 20 million Americans each year. The broadcast examined how the illness can be treated and how individual sufferers and their loved ones cope with the trouble it brings. In 1991, the American Psychiatric Association honored Mr. Hugh Downs with its annual Robert L. Robinson Award for his work on this special.
Mr. Hugh Downs anchored an ABC News one-hour special, The Poisoning of America, in 1988 as part of the critically acclaimed Burning Questions series. The broadcast explored in-depth the problems and visible damage we are faced with on land, in the air and in water, and how these changes in the environment may affect our lives in the future. This special won Mr. Hugh Downs his second Emmy Award. In 1989, Mr. Downs hosted The National Cholesterol Test, which explored what Americans can do - through improved nutrition and cholesterol awareness - to live healthier lives.
In December, 1985, Mr. Hugh Downs hosted the three-hour ABC News Closeup documentary, Growing Old in America, which examined the problems and harsh realities facing millions of America's aged and their families.
Mr. Hugh Downs has enjoyed a distinguished career in radio and television as a reporter, newscaster, interviewer, narrator and host. In 1985 he was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as holding the record for the greatest number of hours on network commercial television. And in May, 1989, Mr. Downs celebrated his 50th anniversary in broadcasting (both radio and television). To commemorate this milestone, 20/20 aired a special retrospective segment looking at some of the memorable moments during his 50 years in broadcasting.
Among a number of Emmy Awards Mr. Hugh Downs has received was one for his work as host of the Public Broadcasting Service program, Over East, a Daytime Emmy Award for Live From Lincoln Center: Yo Yo Ma in Concert, and a 1989 in-depth interview with Patty Duke about her struggle with depression.
In April, 1995, The Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago presented a gala event, "A salute to Hugh Downs", in conjunction with "Hugh Downs: A Television Retrospective", an exhibition that showcased some of his most memorable programs.
ARA Living Services presented Mr. Hugh Downs with their first 1991 National Media Award for "excellence in long-term health care reporting," for his 20/20 segment on the problems families face when attempting to place loved ones in quality-care nursing homes.
In May, 1990, Mr. Downs was given the Broadcaster of the Year Award by the International Radio and Television Society for his many achievements during his 50 years in radio and television.
In 1986, Mr. Hugh Downs was awarded the National Headliner Award by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He was also the recipient of the 1985 Award of Merit from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. He was also honored in the National Council on Family Relations film awards competition for his 20/20 report, Diet Until Death: Anorexia Nervosa.
In addition, during 1982, Mr. Hugh Downs was the recipient of the Carr Van Anda Award for "enduring contribution to journalist" from the Ohio University School of Journalism and received the Emerson College Joseph E. Connor Award.
In September, 1962, Mr. Downs began a nine-year career as host of NBC News' Today program where, each morning, he reported to the nation on the news of the day and interviewed statesmen and leaders from around the world.
In addition to his work hosting Today, Mr. Hugh Downs was a reporter and narrator for a number of NBC News documentaries and specials, including The American Wilderness (1971), the Emmy Award-winning The Everglades (1971), The Ice People (1970), The Great Barrier Reef (1970), Survival of the Prairie (1970), and The First Americans (1969).
He left the Today show in October, 1971, in order "to move on to other things and additional interest," including writing, teaching, lecturing, private consulting in communications, and other opportunities in television. He is the author of seven books.
Mr. Hugh Downs was born in Akron, Ohio. He began his broadcasting career as a radio announcer in Lima, Ohio at the age of 18. After serving in the U.S. Army, he joined NBC in Chicago as a staff announcer, and joined the Home show on that network in New York in 1954. From 1956-57, Mr. Downs was the announcer for NBC's Caesar's Hour.
In July, 1957, he helped launch The Tonight Show with Jack Paar and stayed with the late-night series for five years. In August, 1958, Mr. Downs became host of the daytime game series, Concentration, a role he continued when he began his Today show appearances.
Mr. Hugh Downs has lectured throughout the country on a wide range of subjects, including the quality of life, energy, the role of the communicator in environmental concerns, the exploration of space, and aging in America.
Mr. Hugh Downs attended Bluffton (Ohio) College, Wayne University (now Wayne State), and Columbia University, and holds a post-Masters degree in gerontology from Hunter College. He also holds an honorary doctoral degree from St. John's University and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Maryland. His latest honorary doctoral degree was from Daniel Webster College in Nashua, New Hampshire, in May of 1992.
He has written an autobiography, Yours Truly, Hugh Downs, and has written a collection of science articles entitled Rings Around Tomorrow. His other books are A Shoal of Stars, his account of sailing a 65-foot ketch across the Pacific Potential, a psychological study of human maturity Thirty Dirty Lies about Old, which debunks the myths about aging and The Best Years Book, a manual on late years' planning. Mr. Downs' latest book, published in 1986, is titled On Camera: My 10,000 Hours on Television.
In addition to his activities in the communications field, Mr. Downs is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Space Society, Chairman of the Board of the United States Committee for UNICEF, Trustee of the Menninger Foundation, and has served as a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Advisory Council.
Mr. Hugh Downs chairs the Research and Education Committee in the Geriatrics Advisory Council of the Mount Sinai Medical Center. And in June of 1992, he received a Certificate in Geriatric Medicine for Continuing Medical Education (CME) Geriatrics Review Course at Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York. Mr. Downs also serves as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College, a post he has held since 1982.
