Dan Rather Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned his first Peabody Award in 1975
• After earning a journalism degree from Sam Houston State University, he would briefly attend the South Texas College of Law
• Following his retirement from the "CBS Evening News" in 2005, he would sue his former employer for breach of contract to the tune of $70 million, stating that he was wrongly fired following the botched "Killian document" incident of 2004
• Began his career with the Associated Press in 1950 and would later write for the United Press as well as the Houston Chronicle
• Quote: "We've shared a lot in the 24 years we've been meeting here and before I say good night, I need to say thank you․ Thank you to all of you who have let us into your homes night after night․ It has been a privilege and one never taken lightly․"
• Quote: "For me, the sense of freedom and exhilaration and accomplishment I get from coming to work every day is unimaginable․"
• Quote: "I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be a reporter․"
• Transitioned to television by 1959, earning his first on-screen credits with KTRK in Houston
• Became a network correspondent after gaining recognition for covering Hurricane Carla in Galveston in 1961
• Received national attention for his coverage of President Kennedy's assassination in 1963
• Named the CBS White House correspondent in 1964 and would begin to travel overseas for his work
• Took over the hosting duties of "The CBS Evening News" in 1981 following the retirement of Walter Cronkite
• Once worked as the play-by-play announcer for the University of Houston and Sam Houston State's football teams
• Served in the Marine Corps, but was discharged due to preexisting medical conditions