Early life
Education and educator
Slater earned a master's degree in political science from Columbia University and was a 1924 graduate of United States Military Academy, West Point. An imposing man of 6 ft 3in, he subsequently taught English studies, English and Mathematics, math at his hometown of Parkersburg, West Virginia. He then joined the Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, West Virginia as commandant. Next, he was on the faculty of the New York Military Academy where he also Coach (sport), coached American football, football. He was then the head of the math department and football coach at Blake School (Minneapolis, Minnesota), Blake School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He left Blake School in 1933 to begin his final teaching post, as headmaster of Adelphi University, Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, New York (1933–1942).Military
He served as a Lieutenant colonel (United States), lieutenant colonel in public relations for the United States Army, U.S. Army, beginning in 1942.From educator to broadcaster
While teaching at the Blake School for Boys in Minneapolis, it was suggested by a student, whose father was a radio executive, that Slater had the voice and knowledge to be a sports announcer. His first network break came while at Adelphi Academy, when NBC network officials heard him calling the 1933 Army–Navy Game, Army-Navy football game on CBS with Ted Husing, whose voice was similar.Radio
In addition to covering many sporting events on network radio, Slater hosted a Thursday night quiz show on CBS radio, ''Askit-Baskit'', in 1940, using the stage name "Jim McWilliams".Television
Slater hosted/emceed many early television shows: *''Birthday Party'' (1947), aka ''King Cole's Birthday Party'' *''Charade Quiz'' (1947) *''Messing Prize Party'' (1948) *''Twenty Questions#Television, Twenty Questions'' (1949) DuMont and NBC versions *''Fishing and Hunting Club'' (1949) *''Broadway to Hollywood, Broadway to Hollywood Headline Clues'' (1949) *''With This Ring (TV series), With This Ring'' (1951)Sports broadcaster
Slater was the primary voice of Paramount News Newsreel, reels for many years beginning in 1936. Slater covered the 1936 Summer Olympics for NBC, announced for the New York Yankees and New York Giants (NL), New York Giants baseball teams, the 1937 Sugar Bowl, Army Black Knights football, West Point, Yale Bulldogs football, Yale, Penn Quakers football, Penn and other college football games, and later, tennis from The Championships, Wimbledon, Wimbledon and Forest Hills, Queens, Forest Hills. Slater was noted for his clear, enthusiastic delivery. He was "very lyrical", said sportscaster Chris Schenkel. Slater was announcing an NFL game between the 1941 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season, Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1941 New York Giants season, New York Giants when the first bulletin aired of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, bombing of Pearl Harbor He also co-announced the 1945 World Series on Major League Baseball on Mutual, Mutual with Al Helfer, as well as the 1945 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, 1945 and 1946 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, 1946 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, All-Star Games, also on Mutual. Slater gave commentary on the first television broadcast of a World Series in 1947 World Series, 1947 between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers, which the Yankees won. His co-broadcasters for that event were Bob Haymes, Bob Stanton and Bob Edge. Slater was the chief radio announcer for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network 500 Race in 1947 when the race was covered by the Mutual Broadcasting System.Personal life
Born William E. Slater, December 3, 1902 in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he married twice. His first wife was Rebecca; his second wife, Marian, who sometimes accompanied him on the ''Luncheon at Sardi's'' radio show. He died in Larchmont, New York after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. His younger brother, Tom Slater, five years his junior, was also a sports broadcaster and followed him as the host of ''Luncheon at Sardi's''. Tom Slater's son, actor Michael Hawkins (American actor), Michael Hawkins (Thomas Knight Slater) is Christian Slater's father.References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Slater, Bill 1902 births 1965 deaths American broadcasters Military personnel from West Virginia American sports announcers College football announcers Columbia University alumni Deaths from Parkinson's disease Schoolteachers from West Virginia Major League Baseball broadcasters Motorsport announcers National Football League announcers New York Giants announcers New York Giants (NL) announcers New York Yankees announcers Sportspeople from Parkersburg, West Virginia Radio personalities from West Virginia United States Army colonels United States Military Academy alumni 20th-century American educators United States Army personnel of World War II Neurological disease deaths in New York (state)