Happy Birthday, Terry Culbert!

Happy birthday to Terry Culbert: John Culbert and Mary Ward's great-great-grandson.

Born 13 May 1942 in London, Ontario, Terry was a joy from the get-go...

Terry Culbert, age 7 months with his mother, Mary Elizabeth (Patrick) Culbert, Christmas, 1942.

Terry with his father, Milward Taylor "Mel" Culbert.

Terry grew up in Lucan, Ontario and attended Lucan Public School...

Lucan Public School, 20 Oct 1949. Grades 1 and 2. Terry's in the back row, fourth from the right.

Close-up from school photo. Terry Culbert, age 7.

At age 16, Terry received his first camera: a Yashica-C twin-lens reflex. Terry was the photographer for the Exeter Times Advocate's "Lucan and District News" page. He was also a photographer for the London Free Press newspaper.

Terry's first camera. I remember his darkroom in the basement of our house in Lucan. As you can see, the walls were lined with his drawings, and with photos of young ladies.

Who knew that this camera would lead to a 42-year career in television news?

Terry started working as a cameraman at CFPL-TV in London in 1961, when he was still a teenager.  

Terry in lower left corner. 

His career in television news took off. 

From CFPL he went to CBC TV and then to Global TV, making his mark with his own distinct style and his own features.

Terry won the Charlie Edwards Award; presented for enterprise and thoroughness in reporting to radio and television stations by the Radio-Television News Directors Association...

Source: Broadcaster, August 1970.

Since 1970, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) has been honouring the best cinematography in broadcast news with the Roy Tash Award for Spot News Cinematography; Terry Culbert was the first winner, in 1970.

In October 1969, Terry filmed a student protest of the United States atomic tests in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. A number of demonstrators were injured when a woman drove her car through the lines on the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ontario. Terry's footage of the incident earned him the Roy Tash Award in 1970.

Left to right: Pioneeer cameraman Roy Tash, Mrs. Norah Michener, Terry Culbert holding the Roy Tash Award, and The Right Honourable Daniel Roland Michener, Governor General of Canada, 1970.

Roy Tash (left) looks on as Governor General Roland Michener presents Terry Culbert (known then as Teri Culbert) with the first Roy Tash Award for Spot News Cinematography, 1970.

Source: Broadcaster, December 1970.

Terry won the Roy Tash Award again in 1974. 

Terry is the author of two books: "County Roads: Around Ontario with Global Television's Terry Culbert"...

and "Terry Culbert's Lucan: Home of the Donnellys: Linger Longer in Lovely Lucan"...

Our mother used to say that Terry was born with a pencil in his hand. I don't remember a time when he wasn't sketching, drawing or painting.

Terry's retirement years have been devoted to painting in his Prince Edward County studio with his partner, artist Barbara Högenauer...

Click here to visit Terry and Barb's "County Studio" Facebook page.

You can hear Terry in his role as the Friday Morning Show host on 99.3 County FM in Prince Edward County. Tune in here Friday mornings from 6-10 a.m.

In his 76 years, Terry has enjoyed a full and creative life and I've only just told you a few of the highlights. 

Happy birthday, Terry! 

Terry Culbert's Family Tree: 
Ancestors: 
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents) 
Richard Culbert & Jane Fairhall (great-grandparents) 
Myron Culbert & Effie Taylor (grandparents)
Mel Culbert & Mary Patrick (parents)