Charles Kuralt

American broadcast journalist who won virtually every major award for TV journalism. A bit round and slightly rumpled, he was a genuinely friendly man with warmth, charm and grace. He connected to the essence of America better than any newsman of his generation; truly loving his country and the people with whom he set-a-spell. He searched for the insignificant, elevating it to prose and visual poetry, the light and funny stories of everyday foibles and striving. His first report was a paean to New England's glorious fall foliage, on 10/26/1967. He published his "On the Road" essays in 1985. Kuralt had two marriages; two daughters with the first. After his death, Patricia Shannon, 64, made a claim on the estate inasmuch as, for 29 years, she and Kuralt had been secret lovers. They had first met in 1968. She claims that a handwritten letter from Kuralt stated his intent for her to receive the land and house in Montana, valued at over $600,000. Shannon also claims that Kuralt paid for her children's college, property in Ireland and money to start a business. The courts ruled that his will legally left his estate to his wife of 35 years, Suzanna, who died in October 1999 after which his two daughters took up the legal battle. The suit was settled on 3/22/2000 when a Montana judge awarded Shannon the Montana property where she had made a home with Kuralt. Kuralt's wife never knew of his lengthy affair until after his death. Kuralt had quadruple by-pass heart surgery in the mid-90s. He died of heart disease and complications from lupus, an inflammatory disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys and nervous system 7/04/1997. Link to Wikipedia biography