Willard Herman Scott, Jr. (born March 7, 1934) is an American media personality, best known for his work on NBC's Today show. March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in Leap years). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The National Broadcasting Company or NBC is an American television broadcasting company based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... Today (commonly referred to as The Today Show) is a morning news and talk show airing on the NBC television network in the United States. ...

Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Scott attended American University in Washington, D.C. and was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity. While there, he met Ed Walker. The two hosted a program on the university radio station WAMU-AM for two years, before moving to WRC-AM in 1953. Their program, The Joy Boys, remained on-air until 1972. Old Town Alexandria, viewed from the west, as seen from the observation deck of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. ... American University (AU) is an internationally-known private university in the United States located at Ward Circle, straddling the Spring Valley and American University Park areas of Northwest Washington, D.C. Roughly 5,000 undergraduate students and the same number of graduate students are currently enrolled. ... Nickname: the District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Official website: http://www. ... Alpha Sigma Phi (ΑΣΦ) is a fraternity with fifty-six active chapters, ten colonies, and one interest group in the USA. The crest of Alpha Sigma Phi History Alpha Sigma Phi was founded at Yale College in 1845 as a secret sophomore society composed of the best authors, poets, athletes, and... WAMU is a public radio station that services the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Tuesday. ...

Scott spent the 1960s balancing his radio career alongside numerous jobs as hosts of children's television programs. He appeared on local television playing characters such as Commander Retro and Bozo the Clown. Another role he played during this time was that of Ronald McDonald, who he was hired to portray for a McDonald's franchise in Washington, D.C. Scott played Ronald in the first three television ads featuring the character. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Bozo the Clown is the name of a clown whose widespread franchising in early television made him the best-known clown character in the United States. ... Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-01-14, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants. ... Nickname: the District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Official website: http://www. ...

Willard Scott as Ronald McDonald, from one of the first 3 pre-recorded television advertisements to feature Ronald. Note the "food-tray hat".

In 1970, Scott moved from radio to television, appearing on WRC-TV as a weekday weatherman. He remained there until 1980, when he was tapped by NBC to become its weatherman for The Today Show. After being inspired by a viewer request, Scott began his practice of wishing centenarians a happy birthday in 1983, which he continues to do on a weekly basis. Image File history File links Willard Scott as the original Ronald McDonald - screencap from a 1963 commercial as used at the site http://www. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The National Broadcasting Company or NBC is an American television broadcasting company based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... Today (commonly referred to as The Today Show) is a morning news and talk show airing on the NBC television network in the United States. ... A centenarian is a person who has attained the age of 100 years or more. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1989 Today show cohost Bryant Gumbel wrote an internal memo critical of the show's crew. The memo was leaked to the media. Gumbel said Scott "holds the show hostage to his assortment of whims, wishes, birthdays and bad taste...This guy is killing us and no one's even trying to rein him in." This garnered enough of a backlash that Gumbel was shown making up with Scott on the Today show. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX in Roman) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bryant Charles Gumbel (born September 29, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana), is an American television personality for news and sports programs. ...

Scott is bald and is required to wear a toupee on certain days as part of his contract with NBC. He does not like to wear a toupee, and can be seen without it on television if it is not required that particular day. The National Broadcasting Company or NBC is an American television broadcasting company based in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... A toupee is a small hairpiece worn by men to cover partial baldness. ...

Scott is also an author, having published several fiction and non-fiction books based on his experiences, and a professional speaker. An author is the person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article or the like. ... The Three Graces, here in a painting by Sandro Botticelli, were the goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility in Greek mythology. ... Non-fiction is an account or representation of a subject which is presented as fact. ...

He continues to appear on the Today show to wish centenarians a happy birthday and to substitute for Al Roker. A centenarian is a person who has attained the age of 100 years or more. ... Al Roker PR shot Albert Lincoln Roker (born August 20, 1954) is an American television broadcaster, best known as the meteorologist for NBCs Today show. ...

Family Dad: Tim Scott (1901-1953) Mom: Cindy Scott (1911-1998) Wife: Mary Dwyer (1938-1992) Daughter: Mary Dwyer-Scott (1963-) Daughter: Sally Dwyer-Scott (1967-) Son: Donny Dwyer-Scott (1960-1978)

External links

• Willard Scott at the Internet Movie Database
• Biography of Scott and Centenarian Birthday Biographies from a media production company's website