SeeCalifornia.com

Some love him, some are envious of the man who turned a passion for travel into a lucrative career, and a few of my friends have begrudgingly asked how it’s possible that Huell Howser still has that heavy Southern drawl after living in California for over 30 years. Whatever you think of the man who says, “howdi” on camera, you’ve likely heard of his California Gold PBS television series featuring out-of-the-way places in the Golden State.

Howser moved to Los Angeles in 1981 from Tennessee to become a reporter for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. After receiving his B.A. degree from the University of Tennessee, serving on the staff of a United States Senator and a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, he landed a few journalism jobs in his home state, then in New York City and finally Los Angeles. Huell joined public television station KCET/Los Angeles in 1987 to produce “Videolog,” a series of short programs featuring the stories of people from all walks of life. This series captured the imagination of viewers and led directly to an expanded format which covered people and places throughout the state. His work  in television has also taken him to many countries, including two visits to the former Soviet Union.

Huell Howser, the dual residents of Los Angeles and Twenty-Nine Palms,  was a frequent speaker to civic and student groups and was active in numerous charitable, civic and social groups throughout the state. The tanned, muscular man with silver-gray hair ended his production schedule in December 2012, and didn’t do any new shows, according to his assistant.

UPDATE: Huell Howser died on January 7, 2013 (aged 67) in Palm Springs.
UPDATE #2: Chapman University unveiled a permanent Huell Howser exhibit in March 2014.