Rather, Dan (1931–)

Dan Rather spent 24 years as anchor of CBS Evening News and was called “the hardest working man in broadcast journalism,” receiving nearly every major broadcast journalism award. Born in Wharton, Texas, Rather graduated in 1953 from Sam Houston State Teachers College with a journalism degree. He taught as a journalism instructor at Sam Houston the following year. Rather also studied at the University of Houston and the South Texas School of Law.

Rather began reporting for the Associated Press in 1950 and worked for several other news organizations in Texas during the 1950s, including United Press International, KSAM and KTRH radio stations, Houston Chronicle, and KTRK and KHOU television stations in Houston.

In 1962, Rather joined CBS News as the Southwest bureau chief in Dallas. The ...