Statement from John S. Hendricks, Founder and Chairman of Discovery Communications, on the Passing of Friend and Mentor Walter Cronkite

(Silver Spring, Md.) “It is fair to say there would be no Discovery Channel without Walter Cronkite. When we struggled for funding and viability in the early 1980s, Walter was one of the first to see the possibility of a 24-hour channel dedicated to high-quality storytelling about the world around us. His guidance, support and commitment were instrumental in securing the resources and distribution to first launch Discovery Channel in 1985. He remained a friend, mentor and invaluable counselor to me. Walter also contributed many outstanding programs to help inform our global audience, including telling his life story to Discovery Channel viewers through a remarkable eight-part series called CRONKITE REMEMBERS in 1996. I will miss him greatly and, on behalf of the 4,000 Discovery employees worldwide, we mourn the passing of our dear friend and colleague who inspired the world with his boundless sense of curiosity. We will continue to strive to live up to his standard of excellence and integrity in everything we do each and every day.”

-- John S. Hendricks, Founder and Chairman, Discovery Communications