David Crouse

David Crouse is both a broadcaster and producer. He began his career with a weekend radio show while in high school in his hometown of Lima, Ohio. By 1976 Crouse was one of the youngest television reporters at the time to cover a national political convention working for an NBC affiliate in Ohio. Since that time he has covered both the Democratic and Republican conventions. Crouse has conducted countless interviews with numerous dignitaries. They include the final interview President George Herbert Walker Bush gave in the White House and one of final interviews President Nixon ever gave, to a rare interview with former Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dyan.

He has worked in every capacity of broadcasting from on-air, to advertising, sales and promotion, and management. In 1989 Crouse formed Crouse Entertainment Group to capitalize on the explosive growth in media. The first documentary that he ever produced, which was self-financed, ended up premiering on The Discovery Channel in 1991. Alaska's Bald Eagle: New Threats to Survival, narrated by Richard Kiley, went on to win Best Newcomer at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Festival, which is the most prestigious film festival for wildlife documentaries in the United States.

In 1997 Crouse returned to his hometown of Lima, Ohio and produced a groundbreaking documentary that looked at the effects a world economy is having on a small industrial community in the Midwest. Lost In Middle America (and what happened next), which is narrated by Hal Holbrook, aired nationwide on PBS in late 1999. It was nominated for four Emmys.

In 1998, Crouse, along with producer Michael Pack, chronicled the 1998 national elections with a behind-the-scene look at then Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. What ensued was exclusive access to the chaos that engulfed Washington and the nation during President Clinton's impeachment hearings, the 1998 fall election, and the ultimate resignation of Gingrich. The Fall of Newt Gingrich aired nationwide, on PBS, during the fall, 2000. This documentary followed on the heals of the critically acclaimed two-hour A&E special, Newt Gingrich and the Republican Revolution in 1995-1996. Bill Kurtis Productions produced the program. Crouse scored a media coup as the only television producer granted behind-the-scene access during the historic first 100 days on the new Republican majority in Congress.

Crouse has the distinction of being the first television producer ever granted interviews, for a single documentary, by five former U.S. Presidents (Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush). They were interviewed for his documentary on Norman Vincent Peale.

Crouse, in partnership with The Duncan Group, has produced the first U.S. documentary ever done on C.S. Lewis. Arguably the greatest Christian writer of the 20th century, Lewis also wrote the most popular children's book series of the 20th century, The Chronicles of Narnia, which was turned into the Disney & Walden Media produced movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. THE MAGIC NEVER ENDS: The Life and Work of C. S. Lewis, narrated by academy award winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley, has aired in over 210 television markets and continues airing on Public Broadcasting. Due to the overwhelming success of this documentary, Crouse and Duncan are now in production on Myth, Imagination, and Faith to air in 2007 on Public Broadcasting. The documentary will look at five British authors, including C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, who used myth and imagination in their journey to Christianity.

Most recently the company completed production on the first American produced documentary on Ohio State's legendary football coach, Woody Hayes. Beyond the Gridiron: The Life and Times of Woody Hayes airs on Public Broadcasting. Crouse Entertainment Group secures funding for all of its original television productions through corporate sponsorships and through major grants from foundations. The company has developed a successful record of securing broadcast rights with networks in North America and the world. In North America their programs air primarily on PBS. Additional programs have aired on The Discovery Networks, A&E and the Odyssey Channel. The company's documentaries are then distributed to home video, Internet, and classroom education markets throughout North America. The company has been honored with numerous awards including Emmys, Telly, International Monitor, Jackson Hole International Wildlife Festival and others.

David Crouse serves on the board of the Tip of Mitt Watershed Council (Petoskey, Michigan), Northern Michigan Hospital Foundation (Petoskey, Michigan), and is co-founder and President of the of the C. S. Lewis Festival that takes place each November in Northern Michigan (www.cslewisfestival.org). Crouse is past Vice President of the Board of the Museum of Broadcasts Communications (Chicago) and past board member of The Olive Branch Mission (Chicago).