- published: 05 Mar 2009
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Michael Gregory "Mike" Rowe ( /ˈroʊ/; born March 18, 1962) is an American media personality best known as the host of the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs. He can also be heard as narrator on a variety of series and has appeared in recurring commercials for Ford Motor Company.
Rowe was born in Baltimore, Maryland to parents John and Peggy Rowe. Rowe has said in commercials for Dirty Jobs that the show is a tribute to his father and grandfather. Rowe became an Eagle Scout on January 2, 1979 in Troop 16 in Baltimore. During his service project for Eagle Scout at the Maryland School for the Blind, he read aloud to students, and he cites this as one of the reasons he became interested in narrating and writing. On being an Eagle Scout he said "The Eagle Award is not really meant for people who need to be dragged across the finish line. It's meant for a select few... ."'
Rowe attended Kenwood Presbyterian Church in Baltimore when he was younger; his parents still regularly attend. Rowe attended Overlea High School, where he excelled in both theater and singing under the tutelage of choir director Freddie King, whom Rowe credits for first interesting him in performing. An early stutterer, Rowe was able to overcome the handicap while in school. After graduation from high school, he attended Essex Community College, and briefly sang with the Chorus of the Chesapeake, which at the time was directed by King. He later graduated from Towson University with a degree in Communication Studies.
(Clarke / Hicks / Nash)
Days of yellow saffron.
Nights with purple skies.
Melting in the sunbeams
from my maker's eyes.
Mountain-colored lilac
in the distant haze.
I would like to lie here,
timing all my days
Move past my window,
sunshine is shimmering
jack-o-lanterns glimmering,
giant moths are flickering around.
See, the moon is hiding
underneath the sea.
Pretty soon he'll venture
to take a look at me.
So I humbly stand here
beneath his golden glow.
Doesn't he remind me
of somebody I know?
I must be leaving,
back to reality.
Don't you just pity me?
I could so easily stay here.