Cause of death Stroke Role Journalist Nationality American Education Dartmouth College | Alma mater Dartmouth College Employer CBS News (1979–1982) Name Bill Leonard Awards Peabody Award | |
Born 9 April 1916 Manhattan, New York, New York, U.S. Occupation Journalist and television executive Children Chris Wallace (stepson) Died October 23, 1994, Laurel, Maryland, United States Books Baptist Ways, Christianity in Appalachia, Baptists in America, Can I Get a Witness?: Essays - S, A Sense of the Heart: Christian | ||
William Augustus "Bill" Leonard (April 9, 1916 – October 23, 1994) was an American journalist and television executive who served as President of CBS News from 1979 to 1982.
Life and career
Leonard was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the son of Ruth (Leonard) and James Garfield Moses, a lawyer. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1937, where he worked for the student newspaper, The Dartmouth. He served in the United States Navy until 1945, when he took a position at CBS as the radio anchorman for This Is New York and its subsequent television show Eye on New York.
He was chosen as a floor reporter for the 1952, 1956 and 1960 political conventions. After Leonard was promoted to correspondent, Fred W. Friendly chose him for the CBS Reports team. He led CBS' new news election unit from 1961 to 1965 and helped develop exit polling. He then held a series of management positions at CBS News, rising to President in 1979 until his 1982 retirement. As president, he chose 60 Minutes correspondent Dan Rather to succeed Walter Cronkite as anchor of the CBS Evening News in 1981. He also created Sunday Morning. Leonard and Chairman William S. Paley were the only two employees allowed to stay on past CBS' mandatory retirement age. He was the stepfather of journalist Chris Wallace.
Leonard died from a stroke in Laurel, Maryland.