Hugh Downs, R.I.P.

Hugh Downs, perhaps best known for his tenure as co-host of the ABC news program 20/20 from 1978 to 1999, passed away yesterday at the age of 99.

Long before Downs and Barbara Walters hosted the first edition of 20/20, Downs was a fixture on television and can accurately be described as a TV pioneer. After starting out in radio, Downs got his first job in TV in 1945 with WBKB-TV in Chicago, an affiliate of NBC. Two years later, Downs was the announcer on the children's TV show Kukla, Fran & Ollie. A decade later, he was the announcer on The Caesar Hour.

Downs would become a national figure in 1957 when he became the sidekick on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar and remained in that capacity until Paar's abrupt walk-off in 1962. But Downs was far from down as he was quickly named host of The Today Show serving in that capacity until 1971. During his tenure at Today, Barbara Walters would become his co-host Downs also hosted the game show Concentration from 1958 to 1969.

Downs would take a hiatus from television, but would return in 1975 reuniting with Walters to co-host a syndicated daytime talk show called Not for Women Only. Three years later, the pair would reunite for a third time on 20/20.

I remember Downs as a low key yet engaging playing straight man to Walters more flamboyant delivery. The pair worked like peanut butter and jelly.

Here he is discussing the importance of good communications. R.I.P.