John Drury
Encyclopedia
John Drury was an anchorman
from Chicago, IL. He appeared on both WGN-TV
and WLS-TV
. Upon his retirement came the news that he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig
's disease. He was a leading activist for ALS research and was a spokesperson for the Brain Research Foundation
.
in Milwaukee. He anchored and reported on the 10 p.m. news until leaving in 1962.
He then joined WBBM-TV
. He both anchored and reported news for them until 1967. During this time, he served as Fahey Flynn
's first co-anchor.
Following his stint at WBBM-TV, Drury joined WGN-TV
, where he served as the 10 p.m. news anchor until 1970. He then switched over to WLS-TV
for his first stint on the ABC
-owned station. He anchored their news until 1979 before going back to WGN-TV to be their anchorman again.
Drury stayed at WGN until 1984 during which he won numerous awards such as the Chicago Father of the Year and also a Chicago Emmy awards for Individual Excellence in 1983.
In August 1984, he rejoined WLS and took over the anchorman job for their 10 p.m. newscasts. He won two more Chicago Emmy awards for Individual Excellence in 1987 and 1988. Drury retired in 2002 after 40 years in the business. He won one more Chicago Emmy in 2003 for his news report, "9/11/02 The New Homeland."
Upon Marjorie's death in 1987, Drury remarried to wife Ann Guecerio. Drury lived mostly in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
, but later moved to Wheaton, Illinois
when he remarried. He died at 7:34 pm, on November 25, 2007 in his home in Wheaton, surrounded by his family.
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
from Chicago, IL. He appeared on both WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
and WLS-TV
WLS-TV
WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel...
. Upon his retirement came the news that he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
's disease. He was a leading activist for ALS research and was a spokesperson for the Brain Research Foundation
Brain Research Foundation
The Brain Research Foundation is a non-profit private organization in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation was established in 1953 to promote and support scientific research concerning the brain. The BRF aides scientists in their pursuits to understand, prevent, treat, and cure brain disorders...
.
Career
In 1955, Drury's broadcasting career began at WTMJ-TVWTMJ-TV
WTMJ-TV, digital channel 28 ; branded as "Today's TMJ4", is the NBC-affiliated television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the flagship station of the Journal Broadcast Group. Its signal covers most of southeastern Wisconsin and parts of northeastern Illinois, including Racine, Kenosha,...
in Milwaukee. He anchored and reported on the 10 p.m. news until leaving in 1962.
He then joined WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
. He both anchored and reported news for them until 1967. During this time, he served as Fahey Flynn
Fahey Flynn
Fahey Flynn was a radio and television newscaster who spent the majority of his career in Chicago...
's first co-anchor.
Following his stint at WBBM-TV, Drury joined WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
, where he served as the 10 p.m. news anchor until 1970. He then switched over to WLS-TV
WLS-TV
WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel...
for his first stint on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
-owned station. He anchored their news until 1979 before going back to WGN-TV to be their anchorman again.
Drury stayed at WGN until 1984 during which he won numerous awards such as the Chicago Father of the Year and also a Chicago Emmy awards for Individual Excellence in 1983.
In August 1984, he rejoined WLS and took over the anchorman job for their 10 p.m. newscasts. He won two more Chicago Emmy awards for Individual Excellence in 1987 and 1988. Drury retired in 2002 after 40 years in the business. He won one more Chicago Emmy in 2003 for his news report, "9/11/02 The New Homeland."
Awards
- Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame Induction - 1996
- Chicago Emmy Award for Individual Excellence - 1983, 1987, 1988 and 2003
- Illinois Journalist of the Year - 2002
- Chicago Press Veteran of the Year - 2002
- Chicago Father of the Year - 1983
- Better Government Association's Distinguished Journalism Award - 1989
- Silver Circle Award - 1996
- John Drury Day - February 27, 2002 - Chicago: Mayor Richard M. Daley
Personal and Death
Drury was married to his wife Marjorie and had 4 children, Logan, James, Richard, and Susan.Upon Marjorie's death in 1987, Drury remarried to wife Ann Guecerio. Drury lived mostly in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn is an affluent village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the village population was 26,999.-Geography:...
, but later moved to Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
when he remarried. He died at 7:34 pm, on November 25, 2007 in his home in Wheaton, surrounded by his family.