If you know Devin Scillian at all, you get the feeling that "down time" is not a phrase that he's heard.
Devin anchors Local 4 News at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. on Local 4 and hosts WDIV's weekly current event news program
"Flashpoint." He joined the WDIV team in August 1995.
Growing up, Devin was always on the move -- he's a self-described "Army brat." He considers Kansas and Oklahoma his neck of the woods. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the
University of Kansas in 1985.
As an adult, Devin still can't be still -- whether jetting all over the world covering major news events, or "relaxing" by singing in front of hundreds of thousands of people.
His Web site,
www.devinscillian.com is subtitled "An American Storyteller." And, that couldn't be more true. Devin's stories have weaved their way from metro Detroit to vast corners of the world.
Devin's favorite book seems to be his passport. His news career has taken him all over the world, from the World Trade Center to the Red Sea, from Moscow, Russia to Sydney, Australia, from the streets of Port Au Prince, Haiti to St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Whether it's the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece or the birth of DaimlerChrysler in Stuttgart, Germany, Devin has been there. His recent trip to China led to groundbreaking reports on the crisis in American manufacturing.
However, both the proudest and saddest time of his career was for an event where he didn't have to go anywhere. Devin was a news anchor at
KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City at the time of the Murrah federal building bombing. He describes the traumatic explosion (and its aftermath) as "a study of despair" but it was also a "life-changing lesson in the power of love and kindness." Devin helped the station win a prestigious
Peabody Award for its coverage. He says the honor "remains for me a symbol of the marvelous potential of television news."
Covering events like that are Devin's favorite parts of the job. He says "having a front row seat for history and writing the first draft of history" give him the most pride.
His on-air career has not been without its embarrassing moments, though. Most memorable to Devin was the one night when he raced out of the newsroom into the studio just as the newscast was starting and grabbed what he thought was his suit jacket. It wasn't. Devin landed in his seat just as the camera came up on him wearing a size 38 regular coat. Devin's normal size is 44 long. In terms of how he looked, Devin says only, "it wasn't pretty."
Devin met his wife, Corey, in high school in
Junction City, Kan. They are the parents of four children: Griffin, Quinn, Madison, and Christian. They also have a "flop-eared" rabbit named Pikachu and a golden doodle named Darby.
Devin's definition of "free time" might be considered work to others.
Devin has become a fixture in the children's section of your local bookstore. He's the author of eight books including Fibblestax, Cosmo's Moon, P is for Passport, and the national bestseller A is for America. In 2004, Devin was invited to read from his books at the White House. His newest book is H is for Honor, A Military Family Alphabet, published by Sleeping Bear Press.
Devin is also an accomplished singer and songwriter having won the prestigious Detroit Music Award for Best Country Performer. His album "Tulsa" led to four singles on the European country music charts and the song "Half Past You" hit number one in Denmark. His children's album "A is for America" was a companion to the best-selling book. He has opened for the likes of Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, and LeAnn Rimes.
He's appeared on stage at Detroit's famous "Downtown Hoedown." His music has also aired in numerous television specials.
When he's not singing or writing songs, you might still find Devin practicing music. He plays both the guitar and the piano.
He also enjoys playing basketball, tennis and golf. Devin also likes drawing and painting.
Favorite books: - "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving
- "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein
- "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
- "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
Favorite movies: - "The Year of Living Dangerously"
- "Shakespeare in Love"
- "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
- "Schindler's List"
If you would like to contact Devin, e-mail him at
devins@wdiv.comFollow Devin on Twitter
@DevinScillian.
Copyright 2009 by
ClickOnDetroit.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.