Early Life
Kurtis was born in Pensacola, Florida to Wilma Mary (Horton; 1911–2002) and William A. Kuretich, of Croatian origin (1914–2001), a Marine Corps general and decorated veteran of World War II. His father's military career resulted in extensive travel for the family. When they settled down, he was raised in Independence, Kansas.
At 16, Kurtis began working as an announcer for KIND-AM, a commercial station in Independence, Kansas, of which he is currently a part owner. He graduated from The University of Kansas with a B.S. in journalism in 1962 and went on to earn his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in 1966. While in law school he did the evening news for Stauffer Publications TV station WIBW in Topeka and clerked for the law firm of Colmery and Russell. After passing the Kansas bar examination and winning a job with a Wichita law firm, Kurtis discussed his options with Harry Colmery and Bob McClure, of Colmery and Russell, and decided on a career in journalism.
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“... goodness is of a modest nature, easily discouraged, and when much elbowed in early life by unabashed vices, is apt to retire into extreme privacy, so that it is more easily believed in by those who construct a selfish old gentleman theoretically, than by those who form the narrower judgments based on his personal acquaintance.”
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