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| Willard Scott Helps Mark OSF St. Mary's 100th |
As it turns out, a segment of NBC's "Today" Show that's probably as popular as the news started by accident.
That's according to longtime Today Show personality and former weather man for the show, Willard Scott, who was part of a celebration at the Orpheum Theatre Saturday night marking the first in a series of celebrations for OSF Saint Mary Medical Center's 100th Anniversary.
Scott has long marked birthdays of those turning 100 or older on "Today", and told the Orpheum Crowd it all started with the announcement of one person turning 100.
"Somebody just sent in a letter one day, and I read it, and I never gave it a thought," Scott said. "And the next day I got four, then six, then ten...now I'm the largest clearinghouse in America for centenarians. Took me 40 years to learn to say 'centenarians' and not 'centaurians.'"
Scott calls getting into what he calls "the birthday bunch", "one of the best things to ever happen to me." Scott says he talks to many of the people he wishes happy birthday to, and some he's even interviewed live on the air.
There are a number of events planned the rest of the year to mark Saint Mary's 100th. For more information on them, CLICK HERE.
(Richard Kowalski, CEO of OSF St. Mary Medical Center, speaks Saturday night at the Orpheum Theatre.)
(The "Shades of Blue" Jazz Ensemble from the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America based at Scott Air Force Base, performs.)
(The "Shades of Blue" Jazz Ensemble from the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America based at Scott Air Force Base, performs.)
(One of the "Shades of Blue" Ensemble members has a light moment with Willard Scott. Upon Scott's arrival on stage, the two had jokingly polished each other's heads.)
(Willard Scott, left, on stage with Shannon Jansen, OSF St. Mary Medical Center Director of Marketing and Public Relations.)
(Willard Scott speaks to the crowd. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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