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Phyllis George, pioneering sportscaster and former Miss America, has died
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/16/media/phyllis-george-death/index.html
By Brian Stelter, CNN Chief Media Correspondent
Updated 10:04 PM ET, Sat May 16, 2020
(CNN)Phyllis George, a broadcast television pioneer who became the first female co-anchor of the football pregame show "The NFL Today," has died. She was 70.
Her death was confirmed by her children, CNN's senior White House correspondent Pamela Brown and entrepreneur Lincoln Brown.
George was born in Denton, Texas, on June 25, 1949. A trained classical pianist in her youth, she attended North Texas State University before becoming the 50th Miss America in 1971.
That crown -- and her magnetic personality -- catapulted her to national fame. "It was the springboard to everything I've done in my life," she said in a 2007 interview. She joined the organization's board of directors, one of the first past winners to do so.
As Miss America, George made multiple appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and other talk shows, which led Robert Wussler, the president of CBS Sports, to recruit her for a sportscasting job. She joined "The NFL Today" in 1975, working alongside Brent Musburger, Irv Cross and Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder.
"She paved the way for other women to become sportscasters," Pamela said.
</snip>
By Brian Stelter, CNN Chief Media Correspondent
Updated 10:04 PM ET, Sat May 16, 2020
(CNN)Phyllis George, a broadcast television pioneer who became the first female co-anchor of the football pregame show "The NFL Today," has died. She was 70.
Her death was confirmed by her children, CNN's senior White House correspondent Pamela Brown and entrepreneur Lincoln Brown.
George was born in Denton, Texas, on June 25, 1949. A trained classical pianist in her youth, she attended North Texas State University before becoming the 50th Miss America in 1971.
That crown -- and her magnetic personality -- catapulted her to national fame. "It was the springboard to everything I've done in my life," she said in a 2007 interview. She joined the organization's board of directors, one of the first past winners to do so.
As Miss America, George made multiple appearances on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and other talk shows, which led Robert Wussler, the president of CBS Sports, to recruit her for a sportscasting job. She joined "The NFL Today" in 1975, working alongside Brent Musburger, Irv Cross and Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder.
"She paved the way for other women to become sportscasters," Pamela said.
</snip>
Cross gently, Phyllis.
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
RIP, Phyllis!
Condolences to her family and friends.
