CBS newsman and host of Sunday Morning, Charles Osgood (CBS Sunday Morning, A Science Odyssey, Horton Hears a Who!) has passed away at 91, CBS News has reported. His cause of death, according to his family, was Dementia.
Osgood had a long, illustrious career at CBS News that spanned 45 years. His most known work was hosting CBS Sunday Morning. This position marked his career with Osgood winning the Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Morning Program 3 times. He was host for 22 years, from 1994 until his retirement in 2016.
The Osgood File was also a significant work of his career. The radio program was written and hosted by Osgood for almost 46 years. The program featured written radio commentaries broadcast nationwide five days a week.
His fans will remember and miss his unique talents and interests outside of journalism and how he incorporated them into his broadcast. As CBS News’ “poet-in-residence,” Osgood was known to rhyme his broadcasts and write poetry.
One of his memorable poems reporting on the Nut Tree Harvest Festival’s scarecrow decorating contest was included in CBS News’ article;
“When it’s time for Halloween-ing,
there’s one thing you should know,
You should stay away from Nut Tree,
that is, if you are a crow.
For they go to endless trouble there
to get crows off their backs,
And to make crows feel unwelcome,
And to give crows heart attacks.”
CBS reported a statement from Osgood’s family on his life and career: “Charlie absolutely loved being part of the Sunday Morning community. We’ll miss him terribly, but there is comfort in knowing his life was charmed, in large part thanks to you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for welcoming him into your homes on Sundays to share stories, and to highlight the better parts of humanity. He’ll see you on the radio.”
Osgood will be remembered for his poetry, musical talent, journalism, the fusion of these interests, and the passion he brought to the projects he worked on.