Doug Wilson
Doug Wilson spanned the globe with ABC Sports for half a century. A 1957 graduate of Colgate University, he began his career in television as an NBC page in New York. He moved to ABC the following year. Starting at ABC’s Wide World of Sports as an associate director in 1963, Wilson covered 51 different sports across five continents at events ranging from figure skating in Beijing to wrist-wrestling in Petaluma to auto racing on the streets of Monaco to Ping-Pong Diplomacy in Detroit.
Wilson also participated in the production of ten Olympic Games telecasts, beginning with Innsbruck, Austria in 1964. At the Calgary Games in 1988, he directed the world feed for the figure skating competition and the Closing Ceremony. In 1996, Canadian Television invited Wilson to direct the television coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. He became recognized world-wide as the premier director in figure skating.
Wilson won 17 Emmys and was honored by the Directors Guild of America in 1994 with its Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports. He was also honored by the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation for his production of the 1979 International Special Olympics. In 1995, the United States Figure Skating Association presented Wilson with its Spirit of Giving Award. He was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2019.
Over the past decade, Wilson has performed “An Evening with Doug Wilson,” a one-man show about his 50-year odyssey with ABC Sports, at various venues around the county. Wilson has also guest lectured at Colgate University, Ithaca College, the University of Southern California, the U.S. Naval War College, William and Mary, and American University.
Wilson has three sons and three step-children, and lives in Irvington and Saugerties, New York with his wife, Betsy. They have eight grandchildren.
Wilson also participated in the production of ten Olympic Games telecasts, beginning with Innsbruck, Austria in 1964. At the Calgary Games in 1988, he directed the world feed for the figure skating competition and the Closing Ceremony. In 1996, Canadian Television invited Wilson to direct the television coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. He became recognized world-wide as the premier director in figure skating.
Wilson won 17 Emmys and was honored by the Directors Guild of America in 1994 with its Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports. He was also honored by the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation for his production of the 1979 International Special Olympics. In 1995, the United States Figure Skating Association presented Wilson with its Spirit of Giving Award. He was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2019.
Over the past decade, Wilson has performed “An Evening with Doug Wilson,” a one-man show about his 50-year odyssey with ABC Sports, at various venues around the county. Wilson has also guest lectured at Colgate University, Ithaca College, the University of Southern California, the U.S. Naval War College, William and Mary, and American University.
Wilson has three sons and three step-children, and lives in Irvington and Saugerties, New York with his wife, Betsy. They have eight grandchildren.
Jody Cohan
Raised in Los Angeles in family of sports enthusiasts, Jody gathered with her sisters and parents every Saturday afternoon during her youth to watch the groundbreaking sports anthology program, ABC's Wide World of Sports. Decades later when Jody was introduced to Doug Wilson, the legendary producer/director who wanted to write a book, their meeting was kismet.
Jody's previous book, What If Your Prince Falls Off His Horse?—The Married Woman’s Primer on Financial Planning, won several awards, including top honors in the Business Category at the 2009 San Francisco Book Festival. From 2005 through 2010, Jody coauthored the Procrastinator’s SOS Planner. The 2005 edition was featured on NBC's Today show as a top calendar pick for the year.
Jody is also a writing coach and has compiled years of advice given to her students in The Write Way into College: Rising Above GPAs and Test Scores with Memorably Application Essays. She has also worked in film and television in both corporate and production capacities, as well as coordinated media center operations at three tournaments on the women’s professional tennis tour from 1989 to 1993.
Jody holds a bachelor of arts degree in Motion Picture/Television from UCLA and also attended the American Film Institute as a Screenwriting Fellow. She is a volunteer mentor for WriteGirl, where she supports the Education Team.
Jody's previous book, What If Your Prince Falls Off His Horse?—The Married Woman’s Primer on Financial Planning, won several awards, including top honors in the Business Category at the 2009 San Francisco Book Festival. From 2005 through 2010, Jody coauthored the Procrastinator’s SOS Planner. The 2005 edition was featured on NBC's Today show as a top calendar pick for the year.
Jody is also a writing coach and has compiled years of advice given to her students in The Write Way into College: Rising Above GPAs and Test Scores with Memorably Application Essays. She has also worked in film and television in both corporate and production capacities, as well as coordinated media center operations at three tournaments on the women’s professional tennis tour from 1989 to 1993.
Jody holds a bachelor of arts degree in Motion Picture/Television from UCLA and also attended the American Film Institute as a Screenwriting Fellow. She is a volunteer mentor for WriteGirl, where she supports the Education Team.
Peggy Fleming
Peggy Fleming is the 1968 Olympic Gold medalist in Figure Skating. Her victory was particularly significant since she was the only U.S. athlete to win a gold medal in these Olympic Winter Games. Peggy’s athletic, graceful and elegant style would also lead to five U.S. titles and three World titles. Born in San Jose, California, she began skating when she was nine years old. After her Olympic triumph, she headlined five NBC television specials and toured the world in skating shows. In 1999, at Sports Illustrated's “20th Century Awards," Peggy was honored as one of seven “Athletes Who Changed The Game.”
Peggy was a figure skating commentator for ABC Sports/ESPN for 28 years. She faced her own health challenge in 1998 when she was diagnosed with early breast cancer. Following her recovery, Peggy became a spokesperson for women’s health and helped women become more aware of the importance of early detection and regular checkups. Throughout her career, Peggy has contributed to multiple philanthropic causes and helped to raise millions of dollars for many non-profit organizations. Peggy and her husband live in Colorado and are proud parents and grandparents.
Peggy was a figure skating commentator for ABC Sports/ESPN for 28 years. She faced her own health challenge in 1998 when she was diagnosed with early breast cancer. Following her recovery, Peggy became a spokesperson for women’s health and helped women become more aware of the importance of early detection and regular checkups. Throughout her career, Peggy has contributed to multiple philanthropic causes and helped to raise millions of dollars for many non-profit organizations. Peggy and her husband live in Colorado and are proud parents and grandparents.