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10 Facts About Lee Leonard

1.

Lee Leonard was an American television personality who was involved in the launch of cable television networks ESPN and CNN.

2.

Lee Leonard then served in the United States Army in Germany during the Korean War and developed an interest in broadcasting.

3.

Lee Leonard was a midday radio personality on New York's WNBC-AM, shortly after it launched its "Conversation Station," a talk format, in 1964.

4.

Also during the mid-1970s, Lee Leonard hosted Midday Live, the daily talk show on WNEW-TV in New York City.

5.

On September 7,1979, Lee Leonard was the first person to ever speak on ESPN.

6.

Lee Leonard gave a brief introduction before the network aired its first program, which was the first edition of SportsCenter.

7.

From 1996 to approximately 2002, Lee Leonard hosted Jersey's Talking on News 12 New Jersey.

8.

Lee Leonard was married to actress Kelly Bishop, who played Emily Gilmore on the CW show Gilmore Girls as well as Marjorie Houseman in Dirty Dancing.

9.

Lee Leonard was married twice previously, including once to actress Salome Jens.

10.

Lee Leonard died in South Orange, New Jersey, on December 16,2018.