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Charles Kuralt

Charles KuraltAKA Charles Bishop Kuralt

Born: 10-Sep-1934
Birthplace: Wilmington, NC
Died: 4-Jul-1997
Location of death: New York City
Cause of death: Lupus
Remains: Buried, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: TV Personality, Journalist

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: On the Road

While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Charles Kuralt was the editor of his college paper, the Daily Tar Heel. Following graduation, Kuralt joined the Charlotte News and two years later left for New York to write news copy for CBS television. Eventually he landed himself a correspondent position and became nationally-recognized as the portly, bald host of On the Road with Charles Kuralt and Sunday Morning. Somewhere along the line he also co-hosted the CBS Morning News with Diane Sawyer.

During a trip to Brazil he befriended journalist Hunter S. Thompson, who was then writing for The National Observer. According to Kuralt's memoirs: "I knew him from Rio, where I had once lent him bail money to get out of jail after he had slugged a guy who had kicked a dog in a bar."

It wasn't until after Kuralt's death that the extramarital affair came to light, and even then only because the woman contested his will. Apparently Kuralt had purchased a renovated schoolhouse on 90 acres in southwestern Montana, where he kept Patricia Shannon, his mistress of 29 years. He also bought her a cottage in Ireland and paid for her kids' college tuition. Over the first decade of their relationship, Kuralt gave her something like $600,000. "Charles always said, his refrain through all of his life, 'Don't worry, we're rich,' he would say. [...] Charles took care of all my needs."

After a prolonged legal fight, not only did Ms. Shannon win the property in question, but Kuralt's daughters were forced to pay the mistress's estate taxes, amounting to $350,000.

Father: Wallace Hamilton Kuralt, Sr. (social worker, dec. 6-Oct-1994)
Mother: Ina Bishop Kuralt (teacher, dec. 10-Aug-1991)
Brother: Wallace Hamilton Kuralt, Jr.
Sister: Catherine Kuralt Harris
Wife: Sory Guthery (m. 25-Aug-1954, div. 1960, 2 daughters)
Wife: Suzanna "Petie" Flosom Baird (m. 1-Jun-1962)
Daughter: Susan Guthery Bowers
Daughter: Lisa Bowers White
Mistress: Patricia Elizabeth Shannon (1968-)

    High School: Central High School, Charlotte, NC (1951)
    University: BA History, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (1955)

    The Charlotte News Columnist and Reporter (1955-57)
    Academy of Achievement 1993
    Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame
    Emmy 13 times
    Peabody 1980
    Peabody 1976
    Peabody 1969
    Polk Award 1980
    Kentucky Colonel
    Order of the Long Leaf Pine
    Heart Bypass Operation
    Risk Factors: Smoking

    TELEVISION
    CBS Sunday Morning Host (1979-94)
    CBS Evening News (1967-80)


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