Milt Furness Passes

Milton John “Milt” Furness, Jr. was born February 1, 1933 in Everett, Washington. Raised in Juneau, Alaska, he died April 27, 2017 in Seattle, surrounded by family.

Milt began his broadcasting career when he was just 13, at KJNO-AM in Juneau. This was the beginning of his life-long love of radio and communication. After graduating from Juneau High School, Milt enlisted in the Army during the Korean War and served in the Army Signal Corps in Ketchikan and Juneau. He served for six years, and then enrolled at Seattle University, where he served as editor of The Spectator, and was named Journalist of the Year. While a student, Milt also worked at KIRO Radio as a DJ, and KING Radio as a news reporter. He worked for United Press International (UPI) in Olympia following his graduation, then joined KIRO TV as a news reporter. His first television work was leading up to and during the Seattle World’s Fair.

Milt moved to KOMO-TV in 1967, where, over the next 15 years, he rose to popularity as one of Seattle’s most trusted and reliable news reporters and anchors. Milt initially served as news desk manager and field reporter, became the morning news anchor in the early 1970s, then moved to the evening news anchor chair in the late 1970s, continuing through the early 1980s. He also hosted the innovative television program, The Baxters. When Fisher Communications launched its own cable news network, Satellite News Channel (SNC), Milt was named News Director and served as the network’s primary anchor. After SNC was sold to CNN, Milt worked briefly for CNN. He then joined Boeing Aerospace as Public Relations Director for the Air and Space Division, where he worked until his retirement. Milt won multiple awards and accolades during his career, both in journalism and public relations, and is remembered as being a kind and thoughtful reporter.
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