Bill Geist

(CBS News)  Bill Geist has been a correspondent for "CBS News Sunday Morning" since he joined CBS News in 1987. He chronicles some of the quirkiest people and places in America for the broadcast.

Geist has received two Emmy Awards for his work on "Sunday Morning;" one in 2005 for his profile of Fred Carl, who started the Viking Range company in Greenwood, Miss., and completely revitalized this small, impoverished town, and one in 1992 for his report on the 66th anniversary of America's famed Route 66. He received the 2007 Marist College Lowell Thomas Award that recognizes individuals whose work "reflects the imagination, courage, ambition and humanity" of Thomas, the renowned author, traveler and broadcaster. Geist also has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Illinois.

He has contributed his humor, observations and storytelling to many CBS News broadcasts, as well as various CBS Sports productions, including the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the World Series, the Super Bowl and the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. Geist contributed bi-weekly essays to "60 Minutes II" (2003-04).

He is the best selling author of seven books: "Fore! Play; The Big Five Oh: Facing, Fearing and Fighting 50;" "Monster Trucks and Hair In A Can - Who Says America Doesn't Make Anything Anymore?;" The New York Times bestseller "Little League Confidential," an account of his experience as a coach of his son's and daughter's Little League baseball teams; "The Zucchini Plague and Other Tales of Suburbia;" "City Slickers;" and, most recently, "Way Off the Road," a compendium of stories from "Sunday Morning" on "the peculiar charms of small-town America." Geist has contributed stories to numerous magazines ranging from New York to Chicago, Rolling Stone to Forbes and Vogue to Esquire.

Prior to joining CBS News, he was a columnist for The New York Times (1980-87), where his "About New York" column appeared twice a week. Before that, he worked for The Chicago Tribune, where he was a reporter and columnist (1972 80). Geist served as a combat photographer with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam (1969).

In addition to the two Emmys, he has won many awards for his work as a humorist, commentator and reporter in television, newspapers and magazines. Geist seems most proud, however, of taking third in the Illinois State Fair Bake Off in 1979.

He was born in Champaign, Ill. Geist was graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1968 with a degree in communications and from the University of Missouri in 1971 with a Master's degree in communications. Geist lives in New York City with his wife. They have two children.

[jallan2000]

Dear Bill,
Loved your story today about the cowboy reinactors. I really love all your stories. They are all just a little bit off. I like that very much. You are a treasure.
Sincerely, Joe Allan of Mt. Shasta, CA

[waynebollman]

Are you friend with that Jan Crawford lady? Do you approve of what she did with the new hampshire GOP suffolk poll results? That was pretty slimy. We're trying to get some sort of response (or perhaps an apology) from her and/or CBS on this. Not having much luck. Just curious if you are aware of this latest CBS scandal.

[puzzler125]

I will continue to fix typos, until the day I die, but not as frequently as my mother did with her Sharpie and other pens. I try to do it more politely and subtley (sp?). Helping others to learn is the point and once in a while I get a lovely letter from someone thanking me for taking the time to let them know their website has an error, as the head of Equine Advocates did just this last week. Occasionally I get a letter, with misspellings, that tells me I must feel superior, as the person who worked (past tense on purpose, I hope he's no longer there) the Log Cabin company (not the syrup, building the log cabins) did. No, I did not feel superior but I did enjoy more errors in his email and wondered if his father owned the company.

[creights]

The wedding was beautiful. The story may have been one of the best I've seen in quite some time. You were quite the handsome father as well....Congratulations! (I have two of those weddings in my future)

[creights]

@potterbyran...Before you complain about people correcting others, perhaps you should police you own comments. For instance, learn the difference between there, their, and they're. It will serve you well in the future. In addition, punctuation adds to a sentence. The lack of punctuation makes a sentence...not a sentence. Spelling is another important facet of forming a complete thought and putting it to paper or digital format. I'm sure you have dictionary handy, right? Finally, a sentence must have subject/verb agreement. If you're not sure what that is, refer to the sentence above regarding use of a dictionary. You mention in your post that "If I could tell them myself, I would". In reading you post, I'm not sure you could.

[lynn-oh]

The wedding story: Your daughter was absolutely beautiful. I shed a few tears and the only other time I did that was your spoof on Martha Stewart when you had a paper plate and went outside to gather Naturals for your arrangement. Laughed so hard. Wish they would run that again. People need to laugh more. Keep up the great stories and thank you for sharing that special day with all your followers.

[tonirissa]

Bill, your daughter's wedding was great to watch, as it was the same in many ways for us as our son was married in our back yard on Sept. 4th. We were able to escape Mother Nature's unpredictable wrath due to the fact that our property, the wedding venue, was 6 feet underwater exactly one week earlier. We are on a tributary to the main river upstate. The day came off "without a hitch" as they say, huge tent and all! It rained "cats and dogs" the next day courtesy of hurricane Lee.

[jerijaxfl]

Bill Geist this show reminded us of a Father's Love for his daughter and what a beautiful daughter and wedding. Thank you Sir, for sharing this experice w/us! My husband teared up remebering our daughter & their special dance. This is one of many losses as parents, we feel inside, But if they choose to bring grandchildren in your life, Oh ! this is such a gift for us! Your daughter seems like she has ole Dad's heart and you adore her! Congrats and God Bless! Jeri Lynn from FL & MS

[56moon]

Just watched the story on your daughter's wedding, Where do you live? It is a beautiful spot!!! Congratulations!!!

[lizminor]

Just watched your story on your daughter's wedding. You said you were close to tears and I just had to write to tell you that I cried those happy tears for you. What a lovely story, thank you!

[fanandadmirer]

Loved your feature on camp homesickness BUT how could you leave out the 1963 song preformed by Allan Sherman, Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah?