July 9, 1998 3:40 PM

Bill Geist

Bill Geist

Bill Geist (CBS)

(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.

© 1998 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
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by lynn-oh September 25, 2011 5:12 PM EDT
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.
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by tonirissa September 25, 2011 11:47 AM EDT
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.
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by jerijaxfl September 25, 2011 1:04 PM EDT
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
by 56moon September 25, 2011 11:35 AM EDT
Just watched the story on your daughter's wedding, Where do you live? It is a beautiful spot!!! Congratulations!!!
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by lizminor September 25, 2011 10:35 AM EDT
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!
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by fanandadmirer August 14, 2011 11:38 AM EDT
Loved your feature on camp homesickness BUT how could you leave out the 1963 song preformed by Allan Sherman, Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah?
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by potterbyran June 20, 2011 6:33 PM EDT
Mr Bill Geist, Those two guys that go around and fix typo mistakes,I am not impressed. They are wasting their time doing that. And there is alot more important stuff to do then what their doing. They need to stop fixing all of those typo mistakes,that is not important at all.In fact, it servs them right for trying to fix that monument plaqe, they got in trouble, GOOD!!They had to pay a fine, GOOD, stupid idiots.If I could tell them myself, I would.
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