Jim McKay

Jim McKay

Date of Birth: September 24, 1921
Date of Passing: June 07, 2008
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jim McKay was an American television sports journalist.

McKay is best known for hosting ABC's Wide World of Sports. His introduction for that program has passed into American pop culture.

In 1947, McKay gave up his job as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun newspapers to join that same organization's new TV station WMAR-TV. His was the first voice ever heard on television in Baltimore, and he remained with the station until joining CBS in New York in 1950 as host of a variety show called The Real McKay, Through the 1950s, sports commentary became more and more his primary assignment for CBS.

Jim McKay was an American television sports journalist.

McKay is best known for hosting ABC's Wide World of Sports. His introduction for that program has passed into American pop culture.

In 1947, McKay gave up his job as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun newspapers to join that same organization's new TV station WMAR-TV. His was the first voice ever heard on television in Baltimore, and he remained with the station until joining CBS in New York in 1950 as host of a variety show called The Real McKay, Through the 1950s, sports commentary became more and more his primary assignment for CBS.

He is also known for television coverage of 12 Olympic Games, and is universally respected for his memorable reporting on the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

McKay covered a wide variety of special events, including horse races such as the Kentucky Derby, golf events such as the British Open, and the Indianapolis 500.

Jim McKay was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1995.

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Plaque of Jim McKay
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Plaque of Jim McKay
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Plaque of Jim McKay in the Hall of Fame Garden.

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Inductees in to the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1995. (L to R) William Link, Dick Van Dyke, Betty White, Bill Moyers, Jim McKay.

Everett Collection
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