Marcia Kling

Marcia has been with WTVC since 1962. She was originally the Romper Room school teacher and later the host of Funtime.

She is extremely active in many community affairs.

Marcia, born August 16, is a native of New York's Westchester County. She came to Chattanooga as Director of Christian Education at a local church. In 1962, she became Miss Marcia on NewsChannel 9's Romper Room School. Marcia currently co-anchors segments on ThisNThat and reports on Seniors' topics.

Marcia is married to David Kling and has a son, John, and a daughter, Maria. The Kling Family is very active in their church and its works.

WE LOVE TV

By Marcia Kling

I love it when people regard me as an old friend... even when they don't always know my NAME! At this stage of the game (and actually for several years), people entrust me with their personal problems, believing that, even though we've never met, we are still good friends. I think that's a high compliment, and I honor their trust deeply.

There has never been a stage of my varied career that I didn't enjoy, but I do think my experience interviewing Seniors has been a high point for me. I have met the most inspiring people, people who might not be regarded by the world in general as extraordinary, but who have truly lived life WELL. Since that's my aspiration, I treasure their examples and feel my life has been enriched beyond measure because they have touched it. Speaking of connecting, as I did earlier, I also am glad to be in a position where I can help people find needed resources. Because I have to keep a pretty firm hand on what's going on in the community and what it has to offer, I am usually able to assist people when they need information or help for their problems.

Then, too, my job has taught me how to SEARCH for answers and given me the courage to ask questions that others might be reluctant to express. It's neat when, together, a viewer and I can find answers.

As you know, my life is so busy that there's not a lot of time for watching TV myself. But, when I do, my favorite viewing is with an eye to learning something. I like to be entertained, too, but I really love to feel that I've added something to my store of knowledge as well. But, then, I liked SCHOOL... so we already KNOW I'm kind of weird.

Some of my happiest family memories, though, revolve around the television set, beginning with the days in the early '50s when my parents bought our first TV. We used to hurry through dinner and the evening dishes in order to watch BOB AND RAY and KUKLA, FRAN, AND OLLIE, 2 15-minute shows that came on every evening from 7 to 7:30. Later, when we had children, Saturday night in the '70s meant getting baths out of the way so that we could all watch the classic lineup of Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, and MASH. I can still remember how tranquil and happy I felt on those nights, surrounded by the ones I love best.

I believe television is a badly misunderstood, misused medium, with tremendous potential for good. It takes us places we'd never see any other way. Because of it, we've witnessed historic events, visited the battlefields of war, and met the people who've shaped our century, "up close and personal." That's a sample of what the medium has to offer. However, too many of us still use it as a surrogate parent for our children and a substitute for LIFE... and that's the downside.

As in everything, there is an important element of personal responsibility that goes along with owning a television set.

Favorite Things: Collectible: Angels, and everything related to angels

Flower: Violets

Person (historically): Eleanor Roosevelt

Game: Trivial Pursuit