Mac McGarry

Maurice James "Mac" McGarry (June 15, 1926 – December 12, 2013) was the longtime host of the television quiz show It's Academic, which airs in Washington, D.C., on NBC-owned WRC-TV. He hosted the show for five decades, from October 7, 1961, when it first aired, until June 25, 2011.

Mac McGarry
McGarry hosts It's Academic, December 2009
Born
Maurice James McGarry

(1926-06-15)June 15, 1926
Atlanta, Georgia
DiedDecember 12, 2013(2013-12-12) (aged 87)
Potomac, Maryland
EducationRegis High School
Alma materFordham University
OccupationTelevision presenter
Years active1950–2011
Known forHosting It's Academic
SpouseMarried
ChildrenFour children

Early life and career

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1926, he attended Regis High School in New York City.[1] McGarry attended college at Fordham University.[2] McGarry joined NBC in 1950 for station WNBW, located in the Wardman Park Hotel.[3] There he worked as the announcer for the NBC radio show American Forum of the Air. During this time, he was also making his first forays into television covering Harry S. Truman's presidential inauguration events for NBC-TV and appearing regularly on NBC's The Big Preview.[4] From that time until the onset of illness in 2011, he hosted numerous talk shows, including In Our Town, the first weekly television program to be broadcast in color.[5]

Some of McGarry's first assignments included announcing news of the start of the Korean War and introducing President Truman from the White House. In the early 1950s, he was involved in early color television experiments. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was the announcer for NBC News Updates originating in Washington, D.C., and over the years also did live booth announcing work for WRC-TV.

Later years, retirement and death
It's Academic being recorded in historic WRC Studio A, December 2009

In September 2011, McGarry temporarily took a leave of absence when he was suffering from a lingering cold. Hillary Howard, a news anchor for WTOP-FM, began filling in for him. Although McGarry's intentions were to continue hosting the 51st season of It's Academic, he announced his retirement in early November 2011 due to health issues. Howard subsequently continued on as the permanent host.[6]

McGarry died of complications from pneumonia on December 12, 2013, aged 87, at his home in Potomac, Maryland,[1][7] and was survived by his wife, Babette, and their four children.

Awards

McGarry was a charter member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' (NATAS) Silver Circle. Other honors include:

  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement
  • Several Mass Media Awards from the American Association of University Women
  • The Board of Governors Award from the DC chapter of NATAS
  • The America's Role Model 2004 Award from the Olender Foundation
  • Marymount University conferred the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, on McGarry in recognition of his commitment to academic excellence, encouragement of young scholars, and outstanding dedication to his profession and community.[3]

References
  1. Wiseman, Lauren (December 12, 2013). "Mac McGarry, 'It's Academic' host, dies at 87". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  2. "Hosts". It's Academic Quiz Show - The Official Website. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  3. "It's Academic - Meet Mac McGarry". NBC4 (Washington, D.C.). 2002. Archived from the original on October 2, 2002. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  4. "History - Mac McGarry Show". The Joy Boys. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  5. "Marymount University Commencement Ceremonies, April 15, 2005". Marymount University. April 15, 2005. Archived from the original on April 19, 2005.
  6. Pal, Meera (November 2, 2011). "'It's Academic' host retires; WTOP's Hillary Howard takes over". WTOP-FM. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  7. Handly, Jim (December 12, 2013). "Remembering NBC Broadcasting Pioneer Mac McGarry". NBC4 (Washington, D.C.).
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