20 Facts About Edie Huggins

Edie Huggins was an American television reporter, journalist and broadcaster.

In 1966, Huggins became one of the first African-American women to report on television in Philadelphia, remaining a fixture on WCAU-TV for 42 years; the longest consecutive television run of any Philadelphia TV news reporter in history.

Edie Huggins was born Edith "Eddie" Lou Thompson on August 14,1935, in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Edie Huggins graduated from Bartlett High School in St Joseph in 1953.

Edie Huggins began her career by working as a registered nurse in New York City.

Edie Huggins was employed by both Bellevue Hospital and Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital.

Edie Huggins's consulting working soon led to acting roles on the drama.

Edie Huggins was cast in the 1966 film A Man Called Adam, opposite Sammy Davis Jr.

Edie Huggins was initially hired as a features reporter at WCAU-TV of Philadelphia in 1966 for a show called The Big News Team with John Facenda, following a chance encounter with a broadcast executive in a New York City restaurant.

Edie Huggins stated that the reason that she was hired was to compete against the then-local NBC affiliate, KYW-TV, which had just hired its first African-American female reporter, Trudy Haynes.

Edie Huggins herself made history when she joined WCAU by becoming the station's first African-American female reporter.

Edie Huggins co-hosted a midday news show called What's Happening during the early 1970s with Herb Clarke, weatherman.

Edie Huggins Heroes became a weekly profile feature on WCAU news broadcasts during the 1990s and 2000s, and highlighted Edie Huggins's reputation as a reporter who focused on "unsung heroes" throughout the Philadelphia region.

Edie Huggins was chosen by the Urban League of Philadelphia as one of the "Outstanding African American Philadelphians of the 20th century".

Edie Huggins was a founding member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Professionally, Huggins was often cited by colleagues as a mentor and was affectionately referred to as "Miss Edie" by younger reporters and staff throughout the Philadelphia television news industry.

In 2006, Edie Huggins was cast in the lead role in the independent film So Big, which debuted on May 3,2008, at International House in Philadelphia.

Edie Huggins died of lung cancer on July 29,2008, at the age of 72.

Edie Huggins was survived by her two children, Hastings Edward Huggins and Laurie Linn.

Edie Huggins is interred at Mausoleum of Peace 75 of West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd.