Former Tampa Times writer Tony Zappone, who met Walter Cronkite in August 1967, describes him as "the kindest, nicest man you'd ever want to meet.'
Cronkite, the former CBS anchor known as "the most trusted man in America," died today. He was 92.
The day Zappone met Cronkite, the reporter/photographer was in New York for a story on his friend, former WFLA meteorologist Gordon Barnes. Barnes had left the station to take a job as a weatherman for WCBS in New York.
Zappone, then 19, suggested Barnes pose in photographs with Cronkite, Barnes' colleague.
"Cronkite had called him often to predict weather for the weekend so he could know what the weather would be for his sailing," Zappone said. "Barnes had a trick of being able to predict weather way in advance - months in advance. He called Cronkite and asked him if we could have a picture made with him for this story."
Cronkite agreed.
Zappone said he said he was "just in awe" when meeting Cronkite.
"We got to talking about sailing, and Cronkite invited me and Gordon to go sailing with him that weekend," Zappone said. "I had to turn him down because I get seasick."
Zappone said he made up an excuse to get out of sailing. He said he felt terrible he couldn't sail with the respected journalist who previously had taken presidents with him out on the water.
"Gordon told me that every time [Cronkite] talked to Gordon after that, Cronkite asked about me," Zappone said.
Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.
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