Willard Scott to Retire After 35 Years on 'Today' Show

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After a 35-year career on Today and 65 years with NBC, Willard Scott announced Friday morning that he is retiring.

The 81-year-old TV personality passed his weatherman duties over to Al Roker in the '90s, and started a beloved segment that celebrated viewers' 100th birthdays on Today.

The morning show plans to give Scott a proper send-off next Tuesday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the anchors reminisced over some of their favorite moments since Scott been on the show.


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One in particular occurred during the 1989 presidential inauguration when First Lady Barbara Bush planted a kiss on Scott during the inaugural parade.

"Barbara Bush singled him out," Matt Lauer recalled. "A member of the first family chose to single out America's weatherman. And I remember smiling from ear to ear for Willard at that moment."


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Bush, 90, had the best reaction to her kiss. "I said, 'I don't know him. I just love that face,'" she quipped.

Prior to his time with NBC, Scott also portrayed Ronald McDonald in a series of commercials for the fast food chain in the '60s.

Earlier this month, NBA star Kobe Bryant nearly broke the internet when he announced his retirement. Check out the sweet poem he wrote to commemorate his time on the court: