24
www.newbuffalotimes.comw
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016
T
Left to right: Amanda Morrow, MWSU’s coordinator for the Walter Cronkite Memorial; Eric Fuson, MWSU’s artist-in-residence; Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president; Nancy Cronkite and Chip Cronkite, Walter Cronkite’s daughter and son; and Jerry Pickman, MWSU’s vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the MWSU Foundation. Dr. Vartabedian presents busts of Walter Cronkite to his two children who attended the event.
Centennial Celebration of Walter Cronkite’s Birth
he Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center in New York City was home to a magical live entertainment performance and reception Friday last, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of beloved CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite. The trilogy entitled “And That’s the Way It Is: Cronkite’s Journey” is comprised of three live multimedia performances conceived, edited and directed by Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian, President of Missouri Western State University, home of the Walter Cronkite Memorial. The three acts document Walter Cronkite’s life and journalistic legacy. Cronkite’s tale is brought to life by the brilliant performances of Equity Actors Jim Korinke, Ken Remmert and Walter Coppage. In Act One, Ken Remmert plays Harry Truman and Jim Korinke takes the role of Walter Cronkite in the production “Harry & Walter: Missouri’s Native Sons,” which highlights President Harry S. Truman and Walter Cronkite’s unique friendship. In Act Two, entitled “King & Cronkite,” Walter Coppage depicts Martin Luther King Jr. and breathes life into the important message of the Civil Rights Movement at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Act Three named “Cronkite,” which is directed by Dr. Bob Willenbrink, the founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts, takes place in 2002 on the one-year anniversary of September 11 on CNN’s Larry King Live show in New York City. Born on November 4, 1916 in St. Joseph, Missouri, Water Cronkite—
BY ALEXANDER FATOUROS IN NEW YORK CITY
the only child of Dr. Walter Cronkite anchor continued to keep the standards Sr. and Helen Fritsche Cronkite— of objective journalism high as a special was known as the most trusted man correspondent at CBS. “Old anchormen, in America. Before becoming the you see don’t’ fade away; they just keep managing editor of the CBS Evening coming back for more,” said Cronkite. News, Walter’s career led him to Grandson, Walter Cronkite IV (Walt) Kansas City’s KCMO radio station continues the tradition; he currently where he began working as a sports works on Capitol Hill in Washington announcer in 1936. Serendipity brought D.C. as a producer at CBS News. Walt him and future wife, Mary Elizabeth Cronkite and Maurice Isserman of “Betsy” Maxwell Hamilton College together. She was are co-authors of an advertising Cronkite’s War, copywriter at the His World War II radio station. Letters Home. They were Walter married in 1940 Cronkite’s and raised their commitment children, Nancy, to journalistic Kathy (Kate) and excellence is Walter III (Chip). evidenced by his Cronkite gained many accolades prominence as including a reporter for Primetime United Press and Daytime during World War Emmy Awards, Nancy Cronkite and Mike Mok on Lincoln II and was the face a Golden Globe Center’s Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse of CBS for nearly for Television balcony. Photo by Alexander Fatouros twenty years. Achievement The University of and a Peabody Texas at Austin alumnus reported on Award. “Cronkite set the bar for significant events including Watergate, journalistic integrity,” expounded Jerry the Apollo 11 moon landing, the deaths Pickman, Vice President for university of John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin advancement at Missouri Western. Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Following the moving performance, Dr. Movement, Vietnam War, and the Robert A. Vartabedian presented Nancy Iran Hostage Crisis among others. His Cronkite and Chip Cronkite with bronze unprecedented commentary and reliable busts of Walter Cronkite. Upon receiving reports earned him the title, “America’s the honor, Chip Cronkite, husband to favorite uncle.” He was voted “the most Tony-award nominated actress Deborah trusted man in television news.” After Rush, gave a remarkable speech retirement in 1981, the top-rated news highlighting a retrospect of his father.
Attendees received a keepsake book and a Walter Cronkite Memorial set of Milk and Dark Chocolate.
B
uilt on the campus of Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri and dedicated on November 4, 2013, The Walter Cronkite Memorial houses memorabilia including artifacts, videos, memorabilia and images from Cronkite’s life and chronicles many events he covered as a reporter. The museum displays, which encompass Walter Cronkite’s life journey, are brought to life by Missouri Western’s art faculty Eric Fuson and David Harris. The Walter Cronkite Memorial was made possible in part with funding from the David and Shirley Bradley Endowment and the Missouri Arts Council. The exhibit received wide acclaim and includes a 1960s and 1970s replica of the CBS newsroom from which Cronkite broadcast the news. The Walter Cronkite Memorial is housed at Missouri Western State University’s 6,000 square-foot Spratt Hall at 4525 Downs Dr. in St. Joseph, MO 64507. For more information about the memorial or related shows, drop by www.waltercronkitememorial.org. To schedule a tour, call (816) 271-4100 or email cronkiteinfo@missouriwestern. edu. For a detailed account of humorous storytelling, be sure to check out the number one New York Times Bestseller, A Reporter’s Life by Walter Cronkite available at www.amazon. com/Reporters-Life-Walter-Cronkite/ dp/034541103X.