Biography
Marc Davis Middleton (born October 21, 1951) is an American television journalist, media entrepreneur, author, publisher, and filmmaker who focuses on the changing culture of aging. He is the Founder and CEO of Growing Bolder, a company that produces and distributes health, well being and active lifestyle content creation for the 50+ demographic. Middleton is a multiple Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, host of the national Growing Bolder TV program, executive producer of the Surviving & Thriving TV program, editor and publisher of Growing Bolder Magazine, and writer, producer and director of the Emmy-nominated documentary film, Conquering Kilimanjaro.
Middleton attended Indian Hill High School in Cincinnati, Ohio and Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida where he earned a bachelor's degree in Biology. He was captain of the Varsity swimming team and a member of the varsity track team while at Florida State.
In 1979, Middleton became friends with Mike Leonard, a sports anchor at KOOL-TV in Phoenix, Arizona. With Leonard's help, Middleton produced an on-air audition tape and was hired by WJCL-TV in Savannah, Georgia. Six months later, Leonard was hired by the Today Show opening up an on-air position at KOOL-TV. Middleton was hired and returned to Phoenix as weekend sports anchor.
In 1988, Middleton was hired by WESH-TV in Orlando, Florida where he two Emmy Awards and received multiple Emmy nominations.
In 2001, Middleton moved from the sports desk to anchor the early morning and noon newscasts at WESH. He was part of the team awarded the Alfred I. DuPont Award for a 2004 coverage of the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster.
In 2006, Middleton resigned from WESH-TV to launch Growing Bolder.
In 2009, Growing Bolder TV debuted on WMFE-TV, the local PBS affiliate in Orlando, Florida.
In 2010, Growing Bolder is distributed by American Public Television and aired nationally on public broadcasting stations.
In 2012, Middleton helped create, executive produced and contributed on-air reporting to Surviving & Thriving, a television program about overcoming major life challenges that received Emmy nominations in each of its first 4 seasons.
Middleton successfully summits Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in 2014 with Survivor Summit, a group of cancer survivors and cancer community advocates Middleton carried a video camera with him shooting the documentary film, Conquering Kilimanjaro. The film aired nationally on RLTV, received a 2015 Emmy® Nomination and helped raise funds for LiveStrong Foundation.
In 2018, Growing Bolder TV expands its national coverage to over 330 stations when the program is picked up by the Create TV Network. Middleton competes in Baltimore, Maryland and wins the 2018 American Public Television PitchFest competition and the $75,000 first place prize for a new pledge program concept called Launch Pad to What's Next. The 90-minute special will debut in late 2018, distributed by American Public Television.
Middleton is a 7-time Masters Swimming world record holder and a 10-time U.S. Masters Swimming national champion. His second book, Growing Bolder, Defy the Cult of Youth, Live with Passion and Purpose is now available.
