NYT/AP: Dan Rather Gives Alma Mater, Sam Houston State U., $2 Million

[DeepModem Mom]

Dan Rather Gives Alma Mater $2 Million
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 6, 2006

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- Dan Rather has donated $2 million to his alma mater, Sam Houston State University -- the largest single monetary gift in the school's 127-year history.

''So many people, known and unknown, helped me to get through Sam Houston State when I was there, desperately trying to make it, that I've always wanted to give back -- somehow, some way -- to the best of my ability,'' the former ''CBS Evening News'' anchorman said Tuesday in a statement released by the university, which was known as Sam Houston State Teachers College when he attended.

A Houston native, Rather earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1953 at the school about 75 miles north of where he grew up.

The donation -- made on the day Katie Couric made her highly publicized debut as his permanent successor -- has been designated for scholarships and discretionary spending in the school's communications program....

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It's not the first gift Rather has made to his old school, where the communications building carries his name. He previously established scholarships and supported other programs....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-People-Dan-Rather.html