The June 3, 2016 “The Greatest,” Mohammad Ali, learned the secrets of the universe. My own brief encounter with him was in July 1972. That’s me at the far right (when I had hair). This is WTTG, a Washington D.C. TV station where I worked as the designer for the 10 O’Clock News. (Just a month earlier a group of burglars had broken into the Democratic Party’s National Committee offices in the Watergate complex so the newsroom was hoppin.)
But I came in early the day Ali was scheduled to be in the building. He was a phenomenon at this point in his career and had come to the studio to be a guest on People and Povich (Maury was still a sportscaster and his future wife Connie still one of the reporters). I think this was before the taping—I remember Ali coming up to me and rapid firing a burst of just miss punches—whoa he was fast! He was “on” even off-camera—joking with everyone and signing autographs.
What a treat—today is the first time I’ve seen this photograph. It comes from Brad Huffman (the station’s photographer) and those shown are, left to right, Andy Mathis, Hank Didot, The Greatest, Walt Palmer, Lloyd White, Peter Anderson, and Chuck Green.
Great photographs for such an old time. Surprising.
Wow, never seen this and that’s my father on the left Hand Didot. He never spoke of this but this is a great picture. Thank you for posting it.
That’s great Stephen. I remember your dad. It was a fun time.
This him too? (I see “Hank Didot” listed.)
https://youtu.be/7ieMH9WcRLg
your father hank was very kind to be around. i worked 4 summers at wttg in engineering. just a classy kind sweet person.