Willard Scott To Retire From ‘Today’

After 65 years at the network and 35 years on the Today Show, Willard Scott will be retiring.

Scott has been associated with the morning program since 1980, when he was hired from NBC’s Washington station WRC to join co-hosts Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley.

The genial 81-year-old Scott delivered weather forecasts until Al Roker took over that role.

“I think people are so drawn to Willard, they really just want to be a part of his orbit”, former Today anchor Katie Couric shared.

In recent years, Scott has appeared once or twice a week to mark the 100th birthdays of viewers.

Scott, by the way, got married a year ago, at the age of 80.

One in particular occurred during the 1989 presidential inauguration when First Lady Barbara Bush planted a kiss on Scott during the inaugural parade. “A member of the first family chose to single out America’s weatherman”. Tuesday will be his final appearance on the morning show.

“Suddenly I look over and see this very happy face, race over and give that face a kiss [and] race back to George”, Bush recalled in the segment.

While he is known to most Americans as the “Today” weatherman, Scott is credited as the originator of the Ronald McDonald character.