Donald George Webster (May 6, 1939 – December 13, 2018) was a Canadian-born television host, weather forecaster, and station manager who is best known as the host of the nationally syndicated music program Upbeat and the longtime weatherman for Cleveland, OhioABC affiliate WEWS-TV 5.
Webster was born in the city of Chatham, Ontario, Canada in 1939. His father died when he was eleven years old. After graduating high school, he went to work in the radio business, working in stations in Hamilton, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec.[1]
In the early 1960s, Webster had become host of an American Bandstand-style dance show in Hamilton. In 1964 (after then WEWS general manager Don Perris just happened to see his Canadian show on TV while on vacation in Erie, Pennsylvania) Webster was brought to Cleveland to host a local music and dance program called The Big 5 Show. The show was a success, doing so well that in 1966, it was syndicated nationally under the title Upbeat. The show had been able to draw many big names in the music industry to Cleveland to perform on the show, and with that Webster had numerous national job offers, including working for American Bandstand host Dick Clark.[1][2][3]
Webster however chose to remain in Cleveland, and when Upbeat was cancelled in 1971, he became the weatherman for WEWS' Eyewitness News newscasts. Webster was chosen for this job, as he had studied meteorology en route to becoming a certificated pilot.[1] Webster was the chief weatherman at WEWS throughout the 1970s, into the 1980s, and returned to the post through most of the 1990s. Webster had left the weather desk for a time in the 1980s to become WEWS station manager, stepping down in 1989 to resume his weather duties.[2]
In addition to Upbeat and weather forecasting, Webster had also during his tenure at WEWS-TV 5 served as host for the Ohio Lottery drawings, was an original host of The Morning Exchange,[4] and hosted a local version of Bowling for Dollars. He also hosted The Gene Carroll Show after Gene Carroll died, as well as serving as the long time host of Academic Challenge.[5][6]
Later life and deathedit
Webster retired from WEWS in 1999, moving to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina with his wife Kandi.[1] Though he was retired, he still appeared occasionally in Cleveland media, doing ads for local hearing loss centers and assisted living facilities. Webster died on December 13, 2018.[7]
^. Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
^"Webster inducted into Cleveland Broadcasters HOF". Cleveland Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
External linksedit
Don Webster's 20th Anniversary at WEWS (circa 1984)
January 01, 1970
webster, media, personality, donald, george, webster, 1939, december, 2018, canadian, born, television, host, weather, forecaster, station, manager, best, known, host, nationally, syndicated, music, program, upbeat, longtime, weatherman, cleveland, ohio, affil. Donald George Webster May 6 1939 December 13 2018 was a Canadian born television host weather forecaster and station manager who is best known as the host of the nationally syndicated music program Upbeat and the longtime weatherman for Cleveland Ohio ABC affiliate WEWS TV 5 Don WebsterBornDonald George Webster 1939 05 06 May 6 1939Chatham Ontario CanadaDiedDecember 13 2018 2018 12 13 aged 79 Westlake Ohio U S Occupation s TV host weather forecasterAwardsOhio Broadcasters HOFCleveland Broadcasters HOF Contents 1 Life and career 2 Later life and death 3 Awards and honors 4 References 5 External linksLife and career editWebster was born in the city of Chatham Ontario Canada in 1939 His father died when he was eleven years old After graduating high school he went to work in the radio business working in stations in Hamilton Ontario and Montreal Quebec 1 In the early 1960s Webster had become host of an American Bandstand style dance show in Hamilton In 1964 after then WEWS general manager Don Perris just happened to see his Canadian show on TV while on vacation in Erie Pennsylvania Webster was brought to Cleveland to host a local music and dance program called The Big 5 Show The show was a success doing so well that in 1966 it was syndicated nationally under the title Upbeat The show had been able to draw many big names in the music industry to Cleveland to perform on the show and with that Webster had numerous national job offers including working for American Bandstand host Dick Clark 1 2 3 Webster however chose to remain in Cleveland and when Upbeat was cancelled in 1971 he became the weatherman for WEWS Eyewitness News newscasts Webster was chosen for this job as he had studied meteorology en route to becoming a certificated pilot 1 Webster was the chief weatherman at WEWS throughout the 1970s into the 1980s and returned to the post through most of the 1990s Webster had left the weather desk for a time in the 1980s to become WEWS station manager stepping down in 1989 to resume his weather duties 2 In addition to Upbeat and weather forecasting Webster had also during his tenure at WEWS TV 5 served as host for the Ohio Lottery drawings was an original host of The Morning Exchange 4 and hosted a local version of Bowling for Dollars He also hosted The Gene Carroll Show after Gene Carroll died as well as serving as the long time host of Academic Challenge 5 6 Later life and death editWebster retired from WEWS in 1999 moving to Hilton Head Island South Carolina with his wife Kandi 1 Though he was retired he still appeared occasionally in Cleveland media doing ads for local hearing loss centers and assisted living facilities Webster died on December 13 2018 7 Awards and honors edit1995 Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards Silver Circle Award recipient 8 1995 inductee Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame 9 1999 inductee Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame 10 References edit a b c d Webster bio Cleveland Seniors Retrieved 2014 04 25 a b Upbeat Memories Cleveland Classic Media Retrieved 2014 04 25 Webster photo gallery Cleveland Seniors Retrieved 2014 04 25 WEWS history WEWS TV Archived from the original on 2015 09 05 Retrieved 2014 09 04 WEWS collage Pinterest Retrieved 2014 08 16 Don Webster hosts Academic Challenge Pinterest Retrieved 2014 08 16 Don Webster has died News 5 Cleveland com WEWS TV Webster wins Silver Circle Award National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Archived from the original on 2016 03 05 Retrieved 2014 04 25 Webster inducted into Ohio Broadcasters HOF Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame Archived from the original on 2014 01 02 Retrieved 2014 04 25 Webster inducted into Cleveland Broadcasters HOF Cleveland Broadcasters Hall of Fame Retrieved 2014 04 25 External links editDon Webster s 20th Anniversary at WEWS circa 1984 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Webster media personality amp oldid 1220941461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
