Kirby, Homer D.., PO2

Homer Durward Kirby (August 24, 1911, Covington, Kentucky - March 15, 2000, Fort Myers, Florida), also known professionally as Durward Kirby, sometimes credited as Durwood Kirby, was a 20th Century American television personality. Kirby is most noted as a host, announcer, and sketch comic, particularly on The Garry Moore Show and later on Candid Camera, where he served as Allen Funt's sidekick from 1961 through 1966. Kirby, who was born in Covington, Kentucky but was graduated from Arsenal Technical high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, attended Purdue University, but dropped out to begin his career as a radio announcer. He hosted the Club Matinee show with Moore on the NBC Blue radio network before moving to the then-infant television medium in 1949 as an announcer for advertisements (performed live in TV's early days). He was a regular on Moore's television shows, which appeared intermittently from 1950 to 1968. He also appeared as a host, announcer, or guest on several other television programs. Kirby, who was a lanky 6'4", projected a mellow personality that served well as a foil for the bigger stars he worked with and was helpful to advertisers whose products he pitched. Kirby could be a sketch actor, singer, or dancer, and with ease switch from slapstick to suave sales pitches for a sponsor's product. Critic John Crosby called him "one of the most versatile muggers and comedians on the air." Kirby also published three books: My Life, Those Wonderful Years; Bits and Pieces of This and That; and a children's book, Dooley Wilson.

Military Service, age 32: Durward Kirby served as a Second Class Petty Officer in an Emergency Service Rating with the Navy's Chicago-based public relations staff during World War II, where he was assigned to the publicity unit for stateside bases. Meeting, greeting and entertaining the Hollywood stars who lent support for the war and the troops and as an announcer, master of ceremonies, at public and radio events.

Kirby was married to Mary Paxton Young in her hometown of Indianapolis in 1941. Mary was an only child of Frank W. and Mary (Paxton) Young. They had two sons. Sometimes his name is seen misspelled as Durwood. Kirby died of congestive heart failure in a nursing home in Fort Myers (Shell Point Village), Lee County, Florida. A son reports, the Kirbys "built a summer home in Sherman, CT in the mid 1950's and truly loved that area of Connecticut.