Dan Rather, Jr. (born October 31, 1931) is a journalist and former news anchor for the CBS Evening News and is now managing editor and anchor of a television news magazine, Dan Rather Reports, on the cable channel HDNet.

Dan was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years. He also contributed to CBS’ 60 Minutes.

He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Sam Houston State University where he was editor of the school newspaper, The Houstonian.

Rather began his journalism career in 1950 as an Associated Press reporter in Huntsville, Texas. Later, he was a reporter for United Press (1950–1952), several Texas radio stations, and the Houston Chronicle (1954–1955).

In 1959, he began his television career as a reporter for KTRK-TV in Houston. Rather was promoted to the director of news for KHOU-TV, the CBS affiliate in Houston.

In early-September 1961, Rather reported live from the Galveston Seawall as Hurricane Carla threatened the Texas coastline. His reporting impressed the network executives at CBS, and they hired him as a CBS News correspondent in 1962.