Hours
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed on major holidays.
Admission is free and
open to the public.
Free parking is available for guests in
Lot C; please see map located on back of
the brochure. Bus parking is available in
the circle drive in front of Spratt Hall.
Field Trips
Dr. Robert Vartabedian
Missouri Western encourages schools
to schedule field trips to the Walter
Cronkite Memorial. American history,
journalism and/or convergent media
classes might be particularly interested
in the memorial. To make arrangements
please call (816) 271-4100.
The Admissions Office is happy to offer
campus tours for high school students
following the tour of the memorial. They
can also arrange for lunch at a discounted
cost in the University cafeteria. To
arrange a campus tour or lunch, call
Admissions at (816) 271-4266 or
(800) 662-7041.
Eric Fuson
Website
Please visit our website,
WalterCronkiteMemorial.org,
for more information.
David Harris
The Walter Cronkite Memorial was
the vision of Dr. Robert Vartabedian,
President of Missouri Western State
University, to create a fitting memorial to
St. Joseph’s beloved native son and one
of the most important and trusted voices
in our country’s history. Dr. Vartabedian’s
vision was captured by Missouri Western
art faculty members, Eric Fuson and
David Harris, who designed the unique
artistic display illustrating Cronkite’s
distinguished career with CBS television.
This memorial was made possible with
funding from the David and Shirley
Bradley Endowment. Much like Walter
Cronkite, the Bradley family has left
a journalistic legacy by bringing the
important news of the day to the
general public. We are grateful for their
many contributions to the St. Joseph
community and to Missouri Western
State University.
SU
Missouri Western State University
Spratt Hall Atrium
4525 Downs Drive
St. Joseph, MO 64507
The Vision
Parking Information
M
W
Walter Cronkite
Memorial
To Faraon St. & Griffon Spring Sports Complex
Spratt Memorial
Stadium Complex
Griffon Indoor
Sports Complex
JAMES MCCARTHY DR
Missouri Department
of Conservation
Baker Family
Fitness Center
DOWNS DR
Looney Complex
Beshears Hall
Wilson Hall
Logan Hall
Leaverton Hall
Potter Hall
DOWNS DR
Agenstein Hall
Juda Hall
Remington Hall
EAST UNIVERSITY DR
Vaselakos Hall
Blum Union
Glenn E. Marion
Memorial
Clock Tower
Murphy Hall
Popplewell Hall
Leah Spratt Hall
Fulkerson
Center
Eder Hall
Hearnes Center
Scanlon Hall
DOWNS DR
Griffon Hall
SE UNIVERSITY DR
MITCHELL AVE
MAIN ENTRANCE
Walter
Cronkite
memorial
visitor parking
bus parking
WalterCronkiteMemorial.org
Unveiling and Dedication
Missouri Western State University
4525 Downs Drive
St. Jopseph MO 64507
November 4, 2013
Spratt Hall Atrium
missouri western state university
Welcome to The
memorial features
Historical Photograph Display
WWII Waco Combat Glider
for Cronkite’s coverage. He became known
as “the most trusted man in America.”
The photograph display, approximately
9 feet wide and 21 feet tall, is the centerpiece
of the Walter Cronkite Memorial. Cronkite
served as anchor of the CBS Evening News
from 1962-1981, and the display contains
39 images of world and national news events
covered during that time.
The glider that hangs near the front
entrance of Spratt Hall Atrium,
approximately 14 feet from wingtip to
wingtip and 10 feet from nose to tail, is
a replica of a glider that Cronkite used
during his coverage of the 101st Airborne’s
Operation Market Garden in Holland
during World War II.
Walter Cronkite as
CBS News Anchor
A kiosk with touch-panel controls and a
video display system is dedicated to the
news reports depicted in the Historical
Photograph Display. The videos detail the
events that Cronkite covered as anchor
of the CBS Evening News.
When significant events occurred while he
was anchor, television viewers across the
country tuned in to the CBS Evening News
The family moves to Houston.
As a teenager, Cronkite works
as a copy boy and cub reporter
for the Houston Post.
1939
1916
Walter Leland Cronkite Jr.
is born November 4
at Gray’s Maternity Home
in St. Joseph, Mo., the
son of Helen Lena
(Fritsche) and Dr. Walter
Leland Cronkite.
Missouri Western State University is pleased to
present the Walter Cronkite Memorial, a dedication
to the life of one of St. Joseph’s greatest native
sons. The permanent memorial is a comprehensive
collection of items designed to honor the legendary
CBS News Anchor, born in St. Joseph, Missouri,
November 4, 1916.
1910
1920
1935
Takes a position
as a newspaper
reporter for the
Houston Press.
1930
As a correspondent for the Eighth Air
Force, Cronkite flies over the beach at
Normandy on D-Day, June 6, and later
is at the Battle of the Bulge with Gen.
George S. Patton’s Third Army.
1940
On March 30,
Cronkite
marries Betsy
Maxwell. The couple
would have three
children, Nancy
Elizabeth, Mary
Kathleen “Kathy,”
and Walter Leland
III “Chip.”
Caricatures
The memorial houses caricatures drawn by
well known artist Al Hirchfeld.
NASA Exploration
Several large panels depict images of
NASA’s exploration of space.
The memorabilia case houses items
related to Cronkite.
1950
Hired by CBS radio, then
chosen to deliver the six
o’clock newscast at
WTOP-TV in Washington.
1948
Hired by Kansas City
radio KMBC to open
a news bureau and
be the Washington
correspondent. His
first story is President
Harry S Truman’s
inauguration.
1940
Serves as CBS’s lead
broadcaster for the 1960
Winter Olympics, the
first time the events are
televised in the U.S.
1963
September 2, CBS doubles the length of the evening
news and renames it “CBS Evening News with
Walter Cronkite.” On the first broadcast, he begins the
signoff, “and that’s the way it is” followed by the date.
November 22, Cronkite announces the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy in an emotional
broadcast, then covers the swearing in of
President Lyndon B. Johnson.
1952
Leads CBS’s coverage
of the Democratic and
Republican national
conventions, continuing
through 1980.
1950
Chamber of Commerce Plaque
In front of the St. Joseph Chamber of
Commerce, Cronkite expressed his views
what he perceived as an attack on
freedom of speech in 1969.
Missouri Colleges and
Universities
The memorial includes a display that lists
Missouri’s colleges and universities. It was
formerly housed in the state capitol, and
Cronkite lent his voice to detailing the
importance of Missouri higher education.
1972
1960
1944
Cronkite is on the night
desk for United Press in
Kansas City when Adolf
Hitler, chancellor of
Germany, invades Poland.
The photographic display tells the story of
Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Cronkite, Walter’s
wife of nearly 65 years.
Memorabilia Case
The life of Walter Leland Cronkite Jr.
1927
Betsy Maxwell Cronkite Tribute
1962
Becomes anchor of
the CBS Evening
News April 16.
1960
An Oliver Quayle and Company survey
names Cronkite “the most trusted
American in public life.”
Months after the Watergate
break-in, Cronkite reports on the
scandal to raise public awareness.
President Richard Nixon is offended
by CBS’s coverage and directly attacks
Cronkite for broadcasting the report.
Reports on location in
Vietnam during the war.
He covers the assassination
of Martin Luther King Jr.
April 4.
His interviews with Egypt’s President
Anwar el-Sadat and Israel Prime
Minister Menachem Begin are
instrumental in bringing Sadat to
Jerusalem, which later leads to a
peace treaty signing.
1970
The large timeline chronicles Cronkite’s
life from his birth November 4, 1916, to
his death July 17, 2009. The timeline not
only includes photos and information
from his life as a news reporter and anchor,
but encompasses his personal life as well.
Walter Cronkite’s Life
The kiosk features a touch screen that
shows autobiographical video of Cronkite
talking about his childhood, family,
interests and career.
1984
Arizona State
University names its
school of journalism
“The Walter Cronkite
School of Journalism
and Mass
Communication.”
1999
Cronkite is
inducted into
the Hall of
Famous
Missourians.
2009
1988
1977
1968
Timeline
July 17, Walter
Leland Cronkite Jr.
passes away at
the age of 92.
Cronkite agrees to donate
his papers to the news media
history archive at the Dolph
Briscoe Center for American
History at The University of
Texas at Austin.
1980
1990
2000
2010
1917
The Cronkites move to
1936
Kansas City, Mo. At the
Cronkite is offered a job as a
age of 7, Cronkite starts
his first job, selling Liberty broadcast journalist for KCMO
radio, and meets his future wife,
magazine; and at 9 he
Elizabeth “Betsy” Maxwell.
becomes a paperboy for
The Kansas City Star.
1942
1945
As a war correspondent, he earns his Is the UP correspondent
for the Nuremberg Trials,
first television appearance with
Paramount Films as the first reporter of the major WWII war
criminals.
back from the north Africa landings.
1951
Serves as anchor
for CBS Sunday
newscast, “Up to
the Minute.”
1953
Hosts “You Are There”
until 1957, a program
that re-enacts historical
events in news
report format.
1961
1969
1974
1981
1993
2005
July 16, covers the launch of Apollo Receives what he later Retires after nearly two decades
Forms his own
Cronkite’s wife,
Replaces Edward R.
11 and delivers a single line,
calls his most valued in the CBS Evening News anchor production company Betsy, passes away
Murrow as CBS’s Senior
“Oh, Boy,” as the Apollo 11 astronauts Emmy award, for
chair March 6. He is awarded the and produces several March 15 after
Correspondent.
set the lunar module down on the
his coverage of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
documentaries.
nearly 65 years
surface of the moon.
Watergate scandal.
highest honor for a U.S. civilian.
of marriage.