George Putnam Biography

Fast Facts

• Received an honorary LL․D․ from Bates College in 1985
• Admired U․S․ President Franklin D․ Roosevelt in his youth
• In 1934, he started his broadcast career on a Minneapolis, Minn․, radio station on his birthday
• Quote: "And that's the up-to-the-minute news, up to the minute, that's all the news․ Back at 10, see you then!"
• Was a fixture on a daily current-events radio talk show which he launched on KIEV-AM (870) for almost three decades
• Made his biggest mark as a news anchorman and conservative commentator on Los Angeles television, speaking in a rich baritone and adding a theatrical flair to his delivery
• According to Ted Knight, the Ted Baxter character in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was partly inspired by him
• President Richard M․ Nixon spoke at a roast of Putnam given by KTTV to celebrate the anchor's 50th anniversary in broadcasting
• Owned a working ranch that housed 65 racehorses, which competed in the Kentucky Derby and other races in Southern California
• Rode in the Rose Parade from 1951 until 2000, at which point his horse died and he didn't feel up to training another