CBS Establishes CBS/Dan Rather Scholarship Fund
At Sam Houston State University, Rather's Alma Mater

The scholarship honors the CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor for a continuing career in broadcast journalism which CBS officials applauded as showing the highest standards of integrity and fairness, as well as unparalleled scope. The scholarship fund was announced by Leslie Moonves, president and chief executive officer, CBS Television, and Andrew Heyward, president, CBS News.

The CBS/Dan Rather Scholarship will provide a full tuition scholarship every year for a student majoring in journalism or broadcast journalism. While any Sam Houston State student with those majors and at least an overall 2.5 grade point average will be eligible, Rather has requested that preference be given to students who work either on a paid or volunteer basis for the campus newspaper, The Houstonian. Rather served as editor of The Houstonian prior to his graduation from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1953.

"We are thrilled to acknowledge the huge contributions Dan has made to broadcast journalism through this scholarship," said Moonves. "It is fitting that a man who teaches by example every day of his working life be so honored."

"Dan Rather is synonymous with CBS News because he has been instrumental in building the institution," said Heyward. "He exemplifies the highest standards of journalism - above all, fairness and accuracy in reporting - and he is both generous and inspiring in his efforts to instill those principles in the young people just starting out at CBS News."

"Dan Rather continues to be a great friend to journalism and Sam Houston State University," said Don Richardson, who chairs the Department of Public Communication.

Rather has returned to the Sam Houston State campus often for events, including the 1993 celebration of the 200th birthday of Texas hero Sam Houston and dedication ceremonies in October 1994, during which the university's communications building was named in his honor. In November 1996, he gave lectures on media ethics at Sam Houston State and the University of Texas, which were available electronically to students at both schools.

In 1998, Rather established what Sam Houston State students have called one of the best broadcasting internships in the United States, inviting three students per year to spend a semester working at CBS News in New York City. He has credited training in basics by Sam Houston State journalism professor Hugh Cunningham as one of the keys to his success.

Since the start of his career in 1950, Rather has been in the middle of the world's defining moments. From Nov. 22, 1963 in Dallas, when he broke the story that John F. Kennedy had been shot and then worked around the clock to keep the American people informed of the details, to the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention, to upheaval and conflict in China, Bosnia, Haiti and Cuba more than two decades later, he has covered most of the world's major news stories.

Rather's reporting on Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement in the South, the White House, the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf and Yugoslavia, and the quest for peace in South Africa and the Middle East has showcased his combination of street smarts and astute analysis. He has received every major honor and award in broadcast journalism.

During his nearly 40 years with CBS News, Rather has held many prestigious positions, ranging from co-editor of 60 Minutes to anchor of CBS Reports to anchor of the weekend and weeknight editions of the CBS Evening News. He has served as CBS News' bureau chief in London and Saigon and was the White House correspondent during the Johnson and Nixon administrations.

Since March 9, 1981, Rather has served as anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News. He has been anchor of 48 Hours since its premiere on Jan. 19, 1988, and, beginning with its debut a decade later, has served as a correspondent for 60 Minutes II. His regular contributions to CBS News Radio include Dan Rather Reporting, a weekday broadcast of news and analysis, which has been presented on the CBS Radio Network since March 9, 1981.

Rather joined CBS News in 1962 as chief of its Southwest bureau in Dallas. In 1963, he was appointed chief of the Southern bureau in New Orleans, responsible for coverage of news events in the South, Southwest, Mexico and Central America.

Rather began his career in journalism in 1950 as an Associated Press reporter in Huntsville, Texas. Later, he was a reporter for United Press International (1950-52), KSAM Radio in Huntsville (1950-53), KTRH Radio in Houston and the Houston Chronicle (1954-55). He became news director of KTRH in 1956 and a reporter for KTRK-TV Houston in 1959. Prior to joining CBS News, Rather was news director for KHOU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston.

He was born Oct. 31, 1931 in Wharton, Texas. In 1953, he received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Sam Houston State Teachers College, where he spent the following year as a journalism instructor. He also attended the University of Houston and the South Texas School of Law.

- END -

Media Contact: Kim Akhtar
CBS News (212.975.4295)

Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
SHSU (936.294.1833)

Oct. 11, 2000
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu