CBS News' Christopher Glenn Dies

Award-Winning Correspondent Anchored CBS Radio, TV News, For 35 Years

(CBS)  "Definitely being there when Challenger blew up in front of my face in 1986. I had to get back on the air real fast to describe that, and had a very difficult time doing that," said Glenn, in an interview after announcing his retirement. "It was a very, very emotional moment — probably the most emotional of my career. It was tough to keep it under control while I was doing the broadcast."

He did - and uttered the words that so many were thinking: "A great tragedy here. This flight, which was to have been such a bright chapter in the history of the manned space flight program, turning in the flash of an instant into a terrible, terrible tragedy.”

Another memorable story for Glenn was a happier moment in history - the 1984 Democratic national convention, when Geraldine Ferraro became the first female vice presidential candidate. "People standing up, locking arms and rocking back and forth, and singing and cheering and clapping," Glenn recalled as he looked back on his career last winter.

Glenn also handled numerous assignments for CBS Television. He was the reporter/narrator for the over 5,000 broadcasts of the Emmy Award-winning program In The News, aimed at kids and sandwiched between entertainment programs on Saturday mornings from 1971 through 1986.

"We're a little didactic, we try to teach in some way," Glenn said of the series he pointed to as by far the thing he was most proud of during his career. "A surprise bonus," he said, was the adults who tuned in, many telling him that they really understood a news event for the first time after watching "In the News."

Glenn also anchored several editions of What's It All About? an award-winning television series for young people in the early 1970s. From 1978-1982, Glenn was a reporter and co-anchor on another award-winning TV series for young people, 30 Minutes.

He was co-anchor and interviewer for CBS News Nightwatch, an overnight four-hour news and information broadcast on CBS-TV from its debut in 1982 until 1984.

Which did he like better, radio or television?

"My personal preference would be radio, I think," he said. "That's where I started, and I've always thought that the medium was especially good for communicating with audiences because you don't just have to sit there and stare at the pictures. You have to tell them the story and make them understand, and I think that that's much more of a challenge for a journalist, and it makes it more interesting in the long run."

Prior to joining CBS News, Glenn was managing editor of the Metromedia Radio News Network in Washington, D.C., (1970-1971) and a reporter/editor/documentary producer for WNEW Radio in New York from 1964 to 1970. He also worked for the news departments of WICC Radio in Bridgeport, Conn., Radio Press International in New York and Armed Forces Broadcasting in Korea and New York City.

"I've been doing it, in the business, at least, for about 50 years, 35 here. Done it all, seen a lot, had a very good time, very few disappointments, very few bad days if you want to put it that way, and I'm sorry to go, but it's time now," he told CBSNews.com in February.

A native New Yorker, Glenn received a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado in 1959.

His advice for young broadcast journalists just starting their careers was:

"Get a job, want to do it real bad, do it real good, and stick with it. Practice, practice, practice — same old story," Glenn said.

He is survived by his wife, Dianne; daughters Rebecca and Lindsey; and a sister, Patricia Rooney.

[jmrouse1]

There was just something about that voice. Distinctive. Comforting to listen to, in a sense. You knew you were hearing someone who loved what they did. I was very shocked to read of his passing. And I'll certainly miss him.

[npeters]

I saw Chris Glenn not four weeks ago in Los Angeles at USC's Annenberg School of Communications where he addressed a gathering of former colleagues (inclouding Judy Muller and Frank Mottek) and communications students on the state of broadcast journalism. I hadn't seen him in the 19 years since I left CBS News in 1987, where I had had the good fortune of producing the Saturday World News Roundup for Chris for a couple of years. He was typically delighted to see me, recalled our collaboration fondly, and even recounted to others how I had been on the CBS Radio assignment desk that chilling day in 1986 when he and Frank Mottek at the Cape, and Judy Muller in the CBS Broadcast Center studio next to me, rotated live coverage of the shuttle Challenger explosion.

I'm stunned at the news of his death so soon after promising him in person that I would drop in on him and Dianne in Norwalk, CT the next time I was back in the NYC area.

As everyone who reads this will remember, Chris Glenn was a news pro's pro, a class act, a real talent and a very, very nice man to boot. And, oh, those pipes! He will be sorely missed.

Nick Peters, Los Angeles

[cgreco1-2009]

As a former CBS News staffer and a long-time friend of Chris Glenn, I can tell you that he was perhaps the most modest journalist I ever met. Despite a wall full of awards (including more than one Peabody), you never heard mention of them - for him, it was always about the spoken word, about creating an image and a story through the craft of writing and speaking those words.

While Cronkite is usually remembered for his deep and abiding knowledge and love of the space program, it was Chris who had the truly in-depth technical, historical and political knowledge of the program, and it showed in his many years of covering NASA. None of us in the CBS network radio newsroom can forget the day that Challenger blew up - or Chris, the first reporter to sense that something was wrong, resiliently continuing to report even as his voice cracked, knowing full well that he had just watched seven people die.

There are many such Chris Glenn stories like that, although Challenger is his most memorable. But Chris' legacy is that of a true newsman, for whom the story - and telling it in such a way that made it easily and profoundly understandable to a nation raised on visual images - was everything.

God speed, Chris Glenn.

[pvw32]

In the Army in 1961 Chis Glenn and I were staioned at AFKN Radio and Television in Seoul, Korea. As a TV director I had the pleasure of putting him on the air to read the news. Chris also did a radio jazz show every night at 12 AM called "Jazz After Midnight", I got a new Dave Brubeck album from the states called "Take Five". I took it to Chris. He dropped the prepared show he was about to do and played the album, winging it by reading from the liner notes. Later, we did a remote from the Panmunjom Peace talks at the DMZ. After Korea I was discharged and Chris was staioned in New York at the Army Information Service on fifth Avenue. Chris, M/Sgt Mel Longfield (another buddy from Korea) and I often got together for lunch. Chris had a great, intelligent voice. I shall miss him. Patrick Walsh

[sidchase1]

A true profesional and a true journalist, ufortunatly we do not have many like him today.
He will be missed.

[haynes18]

Like many who have posted a comment, I remember learning about current events on Saturday mornings via "In the News." In the book, %u201CTuned Out: Why Americans Under 40 Don't Follow the News,%u201D David T.Z. Mindich mentions how this short program, shown each hour between cartoons, helped make young people aware of the world around them. CBS should revive this extremely valuable news show. As an adult, I tuned into CBS radio while in the car just to hear Christopher deliver the news. Good night, and good luck, Christopher. You will truly be missed.

[constanza42]

I was deeply saddened by the death of Mr. Glenn. Like many of the posters, I too learned about news through his reports on Saturday mornings. I think "In the News" was the best part of the cartoon cycle. It's also a program that planted a seed in my head that later in life flourished encouranging me to follow my own carreer in journalism. In the last couple of years I was always pleasantly surprised when I heard his voice on the radio. I can truelly say his baritone gave me warm feelings.. no matter what he was reporting on.
It's always so sad when the people who influenced one's life die. I'm sorry I never met him.
Paola Laverd3e

[andyw282]

Christopher Glenn is missed. I looked forward to the "In the News" segments in the middle of my Saturday morning cartoons every week because the stories were accessible.

A correction: Geraldine Ferraro was not the first female vice presidential candidate. The first female vice presidential candidate was also the first woman to have received an electoral vote in a United States presidential election. Who was it? Theodora Nathan (L), 1972.

[andyw282]

Christopher Glenn is missed. I looked forward to the "In the News" segments in the middle of my Saturday morning cartoons every week because the stories were accessible.

A correction: Geraldine Ferraro was not the first female vice presidential candidate. The first female vice presidential candidate was also the first woman to have received an electoral vote in a United States presidential election. Who was it? Theodora Nathan (L), 1972.

[songman45]

My earliest memories of Mr. Glenn were from Saturday morning "In the News" segments. Those punctuations in entertainment provided me with an abundance of current event material for school. His rich deep voice and smooth presentation led me eventually to study journalism and broadcasting. His impact on my life was greater than for most. I determined at a young age to name a son after him. In the early 1990's Mr. Glenn was kind enough to reply to an email I sent him informing him that I'd done so. He even took time to attach a midi file of carnival music as a gift to my son, Christopher Glenn Webb who was born Nov. 5, 1987. God Bless the family of Mr. Glenn. His memory will live on in ours forever.

[spaceradiotv]

I remember listening to Christopher Glenn & Frank Motek reporting on the early Shuttle Flights for CBS Radio News. I turned into their coverage of Challenger (1986) shortly after they came back on the air to report the tragedy. He was always the professional, even under trying times. I greatly missed him when he stopped reporting on the Shuttle Program. On the day Columbia (2003) was lost Mr. Glenn remebered Challenger as if it was yesterday and contributed to that days' coverage.

[jzarkower]

I did not know Christopher Glenn from his newscasts per se, but as a teenager, I was friendly with his daughter Rebecca (Becky) and so I knew him only as Becky Glenn's somewhat famous father. Since those days back in the late 70's, it seems his fame and reputation grew, and so first of all, I wish to congratulate him posthumously. Even more so, however, my thoughts and prayers go out to Becky and the entire Glenn family and I wish them all the best in this difficult time.

[brian5064]

I always enjoyed listening to Mr. Glenn's World News Roundup. It was the best national radio news broadcast bar none. I treasured his voice and vividly recall the pride with which he said, "And that's the World News Roundup. I'm Christopher Glenn, CBS News."
"In the News" is also a treasured but distant memory of my childhood Saturday mornings. I was sad when he retired from CBS Radio, but now I'm stunned and even sadder at his passing.
Thank you for everything Mr. Glenn and may you rest in peace.

[grdowntown]

I fondly remember watching IN THE NEWS during my childhood. That is where I gained my appreciation for the news. During the 1972/73 school year, I was a third grader and used one of Mr. Glenn's stories for a project. I taped the story off the air using a cassette tape recorder (a really expensive luxury for our family at the time). Then I built a TV out of a cardboard box and cut out a hole in the bottom for the screen. A classmate and I drew pictures that matched the story (which involved someone going up an escalator) and we scrolled the story on wooden sticks to the tape--a sort of horizontal display of a scroll a town crier would use in Cinderella. That was over 33 ago and the memory is still with me today. Thank you Mr. Glenn for making a difference in the life of a child. You are the reason why watching and reading the news is such an important part of my life today. I only regret that I am writing this thank you after you are no longer here to read it, but I trust that you knew of the millions of children like me who loved your show.

[j_flood]

You could tell my the mere sound of his voice you were in good hands when he told you the news. My 32 year old sons remembers how he used to hear him on Saturday morning cartoons with the news breaks. May he rest in peace, condolences to his family.
John
Dublin Ireland

[flemtone]

I remember Chris from his days at WNEW in New York, when he worked with my father, George Engle. My mother and I accompanied my dad to Florida where he was covering the launch of Apollo 14. I first met Chris on that assignment, where he always had a few minutes to talk to a googly-eyed space-junkie kid like me. I was 14 at the time, and he didn't act like a 'grown-up', just a bigger kid with a love for the space program, but with great talent. His gift was apparent as he and I talked about world events in between his running into the bathroom with a small cassette recorder to record his radio spots (there were GREAT acoustics in the bathroom, I would find out).

It was a joy to see him on the "In The News" and "30 Minutes, still not talking down to the younger generation, but trying to instill in us the fact that we were worthwhile human beings who had a right to know what was going on in the world, and didn't believe we were too young to understand. A generation of people (possibly the last) who grew up wanting to know what was happening in the world and wanting to be a part of it, instead of watching from the sidelines.

I loved watching his career build over the years. A great set of pipes and a fantastic art with the spoken word, he was one of the best in the business. A sad day in radio. Godspeed, Chris. We'll miss you, my friend.

[dailyvault-2009]

Having first heard Christopher Glenn when he did his "In The News" segments during Saturday morning cartoons, then hearing him as an adult delivering my morning dose of the news, I guess I always assumed that his voice would be there to greet me each morning. (I think that might have been what led me into studying journalism in college, and why I'm still in broadcast media today.)

The sudden news of his final broadcast in February caught me off-guard, and the word of his all-too-soon passing reminds me that I am, indeed, growing up. There was always something comforting about his delivery, even on the worst news possible, that let the listener know there was indeed hope lying ahead.

Please extend my most sincere sympathies to Mr. Glenn's family, friends and colleagues. Take comfort in the fact you do not grieve alone.

[emtak1]

I remembered the same segments from my childhood. In fact, that is what got me to click on the story to read more.

Those little news segments for us kids watching Saturday morning cartoons were eye opening, and unique to the CBS network. Nobody else thought children were worthy of the news at that time (or able to understand it).

Even though I was just a little dude, I remember realizing that there was a certain measure of respect in that. That a big-time reporter would take some time out to explain what was going on to a group of Americans who don't really have a public voice, or an involvement in affairs outside the classroom and home was a little startling and groundbreaking.

Mr Glenn had an influence beond his knowing. Today I am a journalist and journalism student.

I will always remember the smooth serious voice that gave me little glimpses of the outside world during my Saturday mornings. A little respect can go a long way.

Thank you Mr. Glenn

[motherkat-2009]

It's funny the things I remember from my childhood. One thing I remember is Saturday morning cartoons. For the benefit of you younger folks; when my generation was growing up we didn't have children's television 24/7 as you do today. We had a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the afternoon; except on Saturdays, that day was ours.
There, other worlds and other times and people came alive to me in the world of Saturday morning. In the midst of this TV fantasy world there was "In The News"
Whether it was on an "In The News" segment or later when I was a little older on the Children's news show "30 Minutes", Christopher Glenn with his distinctive voice taught me about what was going on in my real world around me. Watergate, a Presidential resignation, African Countries gaining their independence, the Challenger disaster, these are big concepts with big words for a child, but while watching "In The News" and "30 Minutes"they were broken down in a way I could understand them, but yet still told so that I knew my facts when we discussed these things in "current events" in school the following Monday.
I will miss Christopher Glenn..... every time I catch a glimpse of Nicknews or MTV News, I am reminded of this trailblazer and his ability to in translate the big words and concept of news to something more understandable to kids. He help to shepard my generation through the news of our day, not talking at us but to us in a way we could truly understand. Rest in Peace.