“When I would watch him, you would see how effortless he would do the weather. He was justing being Willard.… I remember thinking if I could do a quarter of that, I could do something, his dear friend Al Roker told Today. Roker, who replaced Scott in 1996 after his semi-retirement, added that Scott provided a “masterclass on how you should be on TV.” Roker also honored his dear friend in a touching Instagram remembrance posting photos of them together and saying, “He was truly my second dad and am where I am today because of his generous spirit.” Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Scott had a passion for broadcasting early on. In 1950 was an NBC page at WRC in Washington, DC. After graduating from American University in 1952, he joined fellow American University grad Ed Walker to co-host the Joy Boys radio program o WRC radio which was owned by NBC. “When I was just starting out in the business, I used to love to watch Lorne Greene doing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Scott told The Los Angeles Timesin 1994. “I said right then that’s what I want to do someday, and it’s been one dream that has come true.” Except for the years 1956 to 1958 when Scott served in the United States Navy, Scott worked on The Joy Boys until 1972. During the 1960s he also hosted children’s television programs, playing Bozo the Clown and the original Ronald McDonald. In 1980, NBC brought him on to be a weatherman for the Today show. Scott, who was known for his joyful, gregarious personality and passion for life, was at Today for 35 years. (He spent a total of 65 years working at NBC.) Particularly beloved for his 100th birthday shout-outs, according to NBC he mentioned 40,000 100th birthdays. “Willard reminded everybody that there’s this whole, wonderful, quirky, fascinating country out there,” said Savannah Guthrie when Scott officially retired from Today in December 2015. “He loved introducing America to America.” Scott leaves behind two daughters and his wife Paris Keena. He was married to Mary Scott, until she passed away in 2002. As Roker concluded in his Instagram post. “Willard was a man of his times, the ultimate broadcaster. There will never be anyone quite like him.” Next, sad movies to watch on Netflix right now.
