The Influence of Ed Bradley

My very thoughtful boyfriend called me on my cell this morning to tell me the grave news as I sat at a dealership waiting for my car to be repaired. I am incredibly sad that Ed Bradley is gone.

In 1963, when "60 Minutes" reporter, the late Ed Bradley, was launching his journalism career reporting news on the radio, I wasn't even a twinkle in my parents' eyes. In fact, my parents were only in the first grade. After I was born, Bradley became CBS' first Black White House correspondent. Too bad he didn't enjoy the position.

I was in preschool in Michigan when his story on Vietnamese boat people won an Emmy and by the time Bradley officially joined "60 Minutes," we celebrated my little brother's first birthday in Morehead City, North Carolina. All the while, I, of course, never even heard of Ed Bradley - and if I did, I most likely wouldn't remember who he was unless he made a special appearance on "The Muppet Show," which was my favorite show at the time, along with "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood."

It wasn't until I was in the third or fourth grade that I started paying attention to Bradley, as the show "60 Minutes" became a new favorite of mine. Even as I would sit on the floor of my grandparents' house, mesmerized by these very serious and very interesting stories, I remember, at this young and impressionable age, being fascinated by him. His calm charm and wait… this man was Black! And he was old! But he looked so handsome. Alright, I will confess to you something I've never told anyone. Like many little girls, I had several crushes on grown men. Mr. Rogers was one (do not laugh), Jermaine Jackson was another, and Ed Bradley yet another.

After my senior year of high school, I was off to the University of Georgia in Athens to pursue my own career in journalism. I am a writer, and there were all types of influences leading me down this path of writing and reporting, however, I can't help but to believe that this very curious, talented and intelligent man played a small part in my development as a person and he didn't even know it.

Now that Bradley has past away, I believe that somewhere out there a child is just born or maybe is in the first or second grade, living their sweet childish life, thinking their sweet childish thoughts and at some point they will hear my name or see my face and become inspired and I will have influenced, in some way, the path in life they will choose. Even in all of that, because Bradley inspired me, he will have inspired them too, without them ever knowing.

I'll miss him. We all will.