Born Billy Don Moyers on June 5, 1934, in Hugo, Oklahoma, to John Henry Moyers, a laborer, and Ruby Johnson Moyers, he was raised in Marshall, Texas. Moyers began his journalism career at age 16 as a cub reporter for the Marshall News Messenger. He initially studied journalism at North Texas State College in Denton, Texas, and trained for the Baptist ministry, being ordained in 1954 and earning a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1959. As a journalist and commentator, Moyers advanced to leadership roles including publisher of Newsday from 1967 to 1970, where he recruited notable writers like Pete Hamill, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Saul Bellow, as well as positions at CBS Reports and CBS Evening News. In 1971, he entered public television, executive producing, writing, and hosting influential series such as Bill Moyers Journal (1972-1976, revived 2007-2010), NOW with Bill Moyers (2002-2005), and Moyers & Company (2011-2015), often partnering with his wife, Judith Davidson Moyers. Over four decades, he has been acclaimed as a distinctive voice in broadcast journalism addressing politics, economics, history, religion, and more.