It is rare to find someone with both a degree in journalism and a master’s in divinity, but that unique combination shaped Bill Moyers’ remarkable career in public service. Moyers brought this distinctive educational background to his early work as a founding architect of the Kennedy administration’s Peace Corps.

He soon became a close aide to President Lyndon Johnson, serving as special assistant, speechwriter, and eventually press secretary. Moyers left the White House in 1967, parting ways with Johnson over differences regarding the Vietnam War.

That departure marked the beginning of a distinguished journey in journalism. Moyers held roles including publisher of Newsday, commentator at CBS News, and host of several acclaimed programs on public broadcasting. His work extended beyond politics, delving into ethics and culture—he once devoted an entire hour-long broadcast to the music of American composer Aaron Copland.

Bill Moyers died June 26 at the age of 91.

I had the opportunity to be in the same room as Bill Moyers twice—once from a distance, and once up close. In the mid-1970s, a political science professor invited me to a conference at Indiana University Bloomington featuring Moyers and William F. Buckley. Both were eloquent speakers, and it remains one of the most memorable academic events I ever attended.

In the early 1980s, Moyers delivered a speech in Columbus, Indiana, as part of the Distinguished Visitor series. At the time, I was a morning news anchor and reporter for radio station WCSI, and I had the chance to record a brief interview with him before his speech. Initially, Moyers seemed somewhat reserved and cautious, perhaps a result of his long experience with local reporters. But as our conversation progressed, he became more engaged. I found him soft-spoken yet assertive about the issues that mattered most to him—a moment I will never forget.

Throughout his career, Bill Moyers was a voice of reason during times of deep political division. He was a journalist who never lost sight of the lessons he learned in divinity school: he was unafraid to point out what was wrong, but always sought the good in people wherever he could find it.

Bill Moyers’ work and wisdom left a lasting impression on me. Having witnessed and shaped so much over his 91 years, his voice will be deeply missed.