A long time ago in 1969, a group of brave and caring people came together with a dream. Hartford N. Gunn Jr., John Macy, James Day, and Kenneth A. Christiansen believed every child and every home deserved a chance to learn from the best shows on TV. The kind that teach, comfort, and inspire. Even without big budgets or fancy studios, they built something extraordinary. They created PBS.
Hartford N. Gunn Jr. became the first leader of PBS, and he brought his quiet brilliance from a small Boston station WGBH to the national stage. He stood before Congress and he asked for support. He didn’t do it with pressure or power, but with kindness and hope. That same year, Fred Rogers delivered his famous testimony before the U.S. Senate. In just six calm heartfelt minutes, Fred changed the minds of skeptical lawmakers and helped secure critical funding that would keep PBS alive.
Together, they united more than 200 stations to stand strong. Because of their vision and courage, millions of children grew up with shows like Sesame Street, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, The Magic School Bus, and Arthur. Their legacy is more than television. It gave children everywhere the power to dream, learn, and use their imagination.
