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Respected CBS News correspondent Harold Dow died on Saturday at the age of 62. The death is a shock to all of those who follow black public figures, as Dow was one of the most-respected black journalists in America.
Dow leaves behind his wife, Kathy, and their three children. Dow was with CBS for nearly 40 years, covering some of the leading stories across America. He even covered the kidnapping of Patty Hearst and the release of Nelson Mandela.
Dow is the winner of the prestigious Peabody Award and the Edward R. Murrow Award. He was also nearly killed during the falling of the twin towers on September 11, 2001. One of his greatest feats was getting the first interview with O.J. Simpson, after the murders of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.
In a recent interview, Dow had this to say:
"I've traveled all over the world. I've seen things few people in life get a chance to see up front and personal. I covered the tsunami in Sri Lanka. I was in South Africa when Nelson Mandela was freed. I traveled with him across the United States when he gave his tour. There's just moments, places I've been that I think truly changed my life."
Harold Dow's death is a sad and untimely end to an outstanding career. He lived his life to the fullest, and made the most of the opportunities presented before him. He started with almost nothing and turned that into almost everything. His life and work are going to be remembered for a very long time and he will certainly be missed.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (109)
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By: Maria on 8/23/2010 3:46PM
What a shock! This past Saturday I watched several "48 hours mystery" on TLC and saw him on a couple. He seemed like a great guy and I didn't realize he was 62, thought maybe 55. His earring made him look younger and hipper! RIP!
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By: jorgebrito2 on 8/23/2010 3:32PM
His death must have been suddenly, because he was fine up to where I knew. My condolences to his family and friends. RIP
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By: Warren on 8/26/2010 3:00PM
I am just shocked!
I have many fond memories of watching Harold as he
reported the events of the day, or as he conducted
interviews.
I really enjoyed his personality, and the way with which he conducted himself as a reporter.
I am sorry that he did not get the opportunity to
anchor a major news broadcast as he was very much
an individual who many would tune in, look and listen and enjoy.
While I do understand of how it is written of his passing, I would like to comment, that I am mixed race, ( native and white )
His race is not what made him great, I shall remember his simply as one of the Very Best in his field.
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By: Deborah Reynolds on 8/23/2010 3:37PM
First my prayers to the family on their loss. CBS has lost a wonderful journalist and my prayers to the CBS family. I have read the comments and I usually don't bother to write my feels but I need to point a few things out that may assist those that do not understand why Black is added to everything. Remember this is just my opinion. I'm 56 my husband & I raised our children (2) that they are Americans not African or Afro Americans but Americans. I was raised in WV my children CA. I was in second grade when I had school books that were printed inside the cover "For White Schools Only." I asked my Mom what did that mean and I got my first lesson in racial segregtion. I was the only black in my class until high school. I couldn't believe they actually had separate books for the "white" schools and "black" schools. The white educators, editors, publishers, stamped those books not blacks. Sometime in the 60's the word Negro disappeared, the word colored disappeared and the word "black" appeared. My dad wasn't confortable with Black so he stayed Negro or Colored my Mom stayed Negro and gradually Black. I stayed "American" because I didn't like the rules of 1/4 your black or the books I was educated with were stamped for "white" only. Our news reporters Huntley/Brinkley Chronkite stopped saying Negro and used Black and now here we are always trying to deal with what is correct. To tag "White" only at water fountains, "Black" only at public restrooms started in the south by the white leaders of the segregation years. Both whites & blacks accepted this bad choice of words and segregation. I wish that we could all just be Americans; but we will always have that skin color to make us divided. My grandchildren are Bi-racial. Are they all black not at all the mothers are white my son black plus Indian, Italian, French, & just plain white. Going by the rules my grands can't acknowledge their Moms because the southern rules state 1/4 of black blood and you are black. According to a well educated friend of mine, my grands are black. I say what about the Moms! Someone please rip up the "old" south rules and let us be what we are in the United States AMERICANS who just happen to be either white, black, Italian, Spanish, German, Irish, etc. When we are in other countries, they call us snobby Americans that just happen to be of the black or white or Italian, Spanish, German, Irish, Indian etc. When we die and meet our Lord, guess what He won't see us in our whiteness or blackness nor will He see us as Bishop, Pope, Pastor,Deacon He will see us as His Children. To the person who used GD He will forgive you for using His name in vain.
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By: GG357 on 8/23/2010 5:14PM
Dear Deborah, Great Post. I was raised on Air Force bases from the fifties to the late sixties.
Our base neighborhoods and schools looked like a convention of the United Nations. We kids made friends, played, fought, went to school and school activities and never ONCE did I hear a derogatory word from anyone. Keep in mind that MANY of the families/kids were Filipino, Mexican, Chinese,
Portuguese, Korean along with Germans, Brits and yes, Black-Americans. Did it matter to us? No.
Did it matter to my Dad who supervised his rag-tag group of Airmen? No. Our families shared pot-lucks, baby sat each other's kids, loaned each other money, took each other's kids to the Dispensary (hospital/emergency room) with assorted cuts, bruises and broken arms because their Dads were out of the country and the Moms leaned on each other. My Dad and the other Dads didn't make much money back then, but if someone needed ANYTHING they didn't even need to ask. The first time I heard the "N" word was after Dad retired from the service. My brother very innocently asked during supper, "what's a N....r?" My Dad back handed him into last week and my brother said he was just asking because he had never heard the word before but the kids in has class kept saying it. After Dad told us what it was, my brother and I were dumbfounded. Learned behavior? Upbringing?
Tolerance? Ignorance? I replied to Brenda's post and tried to explain the reason there were non-whites commenting about Mr. Dow. And I read Lila's posts and it's beyond me what their problem is. I just don't get it. Mr. Dow was respected not because of his color, but because he was a decent man.
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By: rcwillie on 8/23/2010 7:08PM
Best post on the board. We are Americans, not African Americans or White Americans, I don't mean to seem racist, and I know there are still a lot of white and other colors of racist, but why do blacks have to be African Americans???? Let's get over all this racism and just be Americans, period.
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By: gustywind on 8/23/2010 6:04PM
He was an awesome reporter; color had nothing to do with it. As long as you continue with "Black Voices" "Black Colleges", "Black Pageants" you continue to perpetuate the "myth" of "Black Prejudices" in American. He would be ashamed to think he were ONLY know as a Black Reporter. Wise UP.
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By: Kay Kalidja on 8/23/2010 3:39PM
Holy Smokes. I really liked Harold Dow. No good byes, Or see you later. Gone but not forgotten. I certainly will miss him.
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By: mjr15 on 8/23/2010 3:39PM
He was a great reporter. I really enjoyed his stories. I wish people weren't singled out as black or white though. He was just a terrific representation of his profession.
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By: Shane on 8/23/2010 3:50PM
Sad to see such a respected and professional journalist die suddenly. It doesn't matter what his race, creed, religion, or anything else was...he was one hell of a good journalist and his insight and ability to get the whole story will be greatly missed.
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