Stephen Guptill
Encyclopedia
Stephen Guptill is a former American journalist and elderly advocate who resigned as Massachusetts Secretary of Elder Affairs after less then one week on the job when it was revealed that he falsely claimed to have had graduated from two foreign colleges.
, Guptill was the youngest of six children. Guptill's first experience with the elderly came from delivering food from his father's luncheonette to elderly people who lived in the neighborhood.
Guptill dropped out of high school and joined the United States Air Force
. While in the Air Force, Guptill earned his high school diploma.
. From 1971 to 1975 he hosted an elderly affairs show on WSMW-TV
.
In 1975, Guptill joined WNAC-TV, where he worked as an elderly affairs reporter and hosted the Sunday morning show The Elder American.
would nominate Guptill for the position of Secretary of Elder Affairs. On January 10, 1979, less than six days after taking office, he resigned after admitting to falsely claiming two degrees (a bachelor's degree from the University of Heidelberg and a master's degree from Cambridge University) on his resume.
of having violated a federal payola
law in 1977 when while guest hosing a WHDH
radio show, he urged the elderly to move to the Woodbriar Cape Cod, a housing development that was paying him $250 a week.
On May 16, 1980, Guptill was convicted of failing to file state income tax returns and fined $1,000 and ordered to pay back taxes, interest, and penalties totaling $1,317.
Early life
A native of Lynn, MassachusettsLynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, Guptill was the youngest of six children. Guptill's first experience with the elderly came from delivering food from his father's luncheonette to elderly people who lived in the neighborhood.
Guptill dropped out of high school and joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. While in the Air Force, Guptill earned his high school diploma.
Journalism
From 1969 to 1971, Guptill ran a newsletter for senior citizens in Central MassachusettsCentral Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts is the geographically central region of Massachusetts. Though definitions vary, most include all of Worcester County and the northwest corner of Middlesex County. Worcester, the largest city in the area and the seat of Worcester County, is often considered the cultural capital...
. From 1971 to 1975 he hosted an elderly affairs show on WSMW-TV
WUNI
WUNI, digital channel 29, is the Univision television affiliate for the Greater Boston market. Licensed to Worcester, Massachusetts, the station runs general Spanish entertainment programs as well as news and information programming...
.
In 1975, Guptill joined WNAC-TV, where he worked as an elderly affairs reporter and hosted the Sunday morning show The Elder American.
Secretary of Elder Affairs
On December 23, 1978 it was announced that Governor-elect Edward J. KingEdward J. King
Edward Joseph "Ed" King was the 66th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983.Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Boston College and Bentley College, King played professional football as a guard with the All-America Football Conference Buffalo Bisons from 1948 to...
would nominate Guptill for the position of Secretary of Elder Affairs. On January 10, 1979, less than six days after taking office, he resigned after admitting to falsely claiming two degrees (a bachelor's degree from the University of Heidelberg and a master's degree from Cambridge University) on his resume.
Later life
In 1979, Guptill was accused by WCVB-TVWCVB-TV
WCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
of having violated a federal payola
Payola
Payola, in the American music industry, is the illegal practice of payment or other inducement by record companies for the broadcast of recordings on music radio, in which the song is presented as being part of the normal day's broadcast. Under U.S...
law in 1977 when while guest hosing a WHDH
WEEI
WEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
radio show, he urged the elderly to move to the Woodbriar Cape Cod, a housing development that was paying him $250 a week.
On May 16, 1980, Guptill was convicted of failing to file state income tax returns and fined $1,000 and ordered to pay back taxes, interest, and penalties totaling $1,317.