UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Honors Legendary Journalist Bob Schieffer

MD Anderson News Release December 03, 2010

Annual Dallas/FortWorth Fundraiser Features Interview With NBC's Tom Brokaw

MD Anderson News Release 12/03/10

HOUSTON - A Conversation With a Living Legend® in Dallas, benefiting The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, showcases CBS chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer as its 21st annual honoree in an interview with NBC News special correspondent Tom Brokaw, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Chantilly Ballroom of the Hilton Anatole, 2201 Stemmons Freeway.

An estimated 1,000 luncheon guests will enjoy an exclusive one-on-one interview onstage while supporting the Dallas/Fort Worth Living Legend Chair for Cancer Research at MD Anderson. The event also will include an auction of four seats in the control room during a live Face the Nation broadcast, followed by brunch with Schieffer and his wife, Pat.

Since its inception in 1990, A Conversation With a Living Legend in Dallas has raised more than $9.65 million for MD Anderson's research, patient care and education initiatives. Contributions raised by this year's luncheon already exceed $885,160. With every $1 million the event raises, MD Anderson creates a new endowed chair, enhancing the institution's ability to recruit and retain new faculty of the highest caliber, advance its research and patient care initiatives and train future generations of physicians and scientists.

Chairing this year's event is Gale Sliger, with co-chair Stephanie Hunt. Honorary chairs are Margot and Ross Perot. Presenting sponsors are Andrews Distributing Company and AT&T. Red Carpet Sponsors are Citi Private Bank, Lee Ann and Alan White/PlainsCapital Bank and Sewell Automotive Companies.

Bob Schieffer is CBS chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation anchor and moderator. The native Texan is one of the few journalists to have covered the White House, the Pentagon, the State Department and Capitol Hill. Before joining CBS News in 1969, he was a reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In 1965, Schieffer became the first reporter from a Texas newspaper to report from Vietnam. He later became news anchor at WBAP-TV Dallas/Fort Worth. In 1973, Schieffer became anchor of the CBS Sunday Night News. In August 1996, he stepped down after 20 years as anchor of the Saturday edition of the CBS Evening News. Former interim anchor of The CBS Evening News, he contributes regularly to The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric. In 2005, Texas Christian University, Schieffer's alma mater, honored him by creating the Schieffer School of Journalism. The author of four books, he has received seven Emmy Awards, two Sigma Delta Chi Awards, the International Radio and Television Society Foundation Award, the American News Women's Club Helen Thomas Award for Excellence in Journalism and the Radio-Television News Directors Association's Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award. In 2002, the National Press Foundation named him Broadcaster of the Year. In 2007, MD Anderson honored Schieffer with the inaugural Making Cancer History® award.

One of the most trusted and respected figures in journalism, Tom Brokaw is a special correspondent for NBC News. His numerous honors include induction into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Brokaw has received the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, the Foundation for the National Archives' Records of Achievement Award, the West Point Sylvanus Thayer Award, a dozen Emmys, two Peabody Awards and two duPont awards. In 2003, NBC Nightly News received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast for the fourth consecutive year. Brokaw was the first journalist to receive the Association of the U.S. Army's highest award, the George Catlett Marshall Medal. Brokaw began his journalism career in 1962 at KMTV in Omaha, Nebraska. He anchored the late evening news on Atlanta's WSB-TV in 1965 before joining KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. Brokaw was hired by NBC News in 1966, and from 1976 to 1981 he anchored NBC News' Today. In 2004, he stepped down after 21 years as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News. Complementing his distinguished broadcast journalism career, Brokaw has written articles, essays and commentary for several publications and authored five books. 12/03/10