Charles Kuralt, Dead at 62

By Mark Coatney Friday, July 04, 1997
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NEW YORK CITY: Charles Kuralt, CBS's chronicler of the heart of America, died on the 4th of July. The 62-year-old former host of "On the Road with Charles Kuralt" and "CBS Sunday Morning" died at New York Hospital from complications from lupus. Kuralt joined CBS News in 1957 as a writer after working as a reporter and columnist for the Charlotte (N.C.) News. He quickly rose to prominence at the network, with one of his bosses describing him as "the next Ed Murrow." The self-deprecating Kuralt dismissed such praise as "ridiculous." Kuralt left hard news in 1967 to launch "On the Road." The three month trial was an immediate hit, and Kuralt over the next two-plus decases found a large and loyal audience for his unique stories about the American people.