Douglas Edwards (1917-1990)
Douglas Edwards was born July 14, 1917 in Ada, Oklahoma. Edwards was Americas first network news television anchor. He anchored the CBS broadcast from 1948-1962. He also anchored the first televised Democrat and Republican party conventions. In the mid fifties Edwards broadcast was watched by nearly 30 million viewers. Edwards would be eclipsed by John Cameron Swayze of NBC News. Edwards however managed to surpass Swayze. Edwards hosted the Miss America Pageant 5 times. He covered the attempted assasination of Truman in 1950, the corantion of Elizabeth II in 1952,as well as several major events. His ratings weakened severly in the late 50 s and was replaced with Walter Cronkite. Douglas Edwards died of cancer in October of 1990.