You likely know of Fred from his long-running weekly PBS children’s program, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

But if not, you too are invited to join us as we introduce you to this kind and gentle man.

(Story continues from "Read More")

An ordained Presbyterian Minister, Fred never practiced, because early television had captured his heart as he saw its potential to uplift children’s lives.

Fred joined NBC, a giant U.S. television network, but he disliked advertisers distorting the values he hoped to instill.

So, he switched to Canadian public television and then to the U.S.’s PBS. Starting in 1968, and running 33-years, until 2001 Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood reached millions of children.

Photo: wttw.com

In a typical show, he would interact with puppets, talk to guests or to show characters, or take a field trip to a bakery or to a Crayon factory to see how they made their products.

In one trip he visited Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was filmed in Pittsburgh) to show children that a hospital is not a place to fear.

He always reassured children for in him they had a friend who loved and cared for them, as he spoke gently and respectfully to them throughout the show.

To understand the success of the show, you must see it for yourself, in whole or in part. Here is a show he did with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Uc_xqMbrA

Editor's Note: You can find many more shows by Googling them on YouTube. To learn more about Fred Rogers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Rogers%27_Neighborhood

In his personal life, Fred was a husband and a father of two sons. He was married to Sara for over 50-years until his passing in 2003 at age 74.

In the next KazanToday: An amazing 119-year-old small business!