He says the first semester was “the hardest thing I had done since basic training.” But he survived and even made the Law Review. No doubt his cut from the movie and the money he earned on the lecture circuit eased his pain, paying his way through law school. He graduated without owing a dime.

At this point, Cronauer had been a news anchor, radio station manager, golden-throated pitchman. He even opened letters as an assistant to Fred Rogers, who was just starting out in Pittsburgh with a show called “The Children’s Corner.” (“Rogers was so shy he wouldn’t appear on television himself,” preferring to “play the organ and work the puppets,” notes Cronauer.)

Cronauer could have happily practiced communications law for the rest of his years, living off the vapors of his movie. But then 9/11 happened.