For Immediate Release
Author and screenwriter William “Bill” Broyles, Jr. has been named the recipient of the Texas Institute of Letters’ prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the highest honor given by the TIL, which was established in 1936 to recognize distinctive literary achievement. The award will be presented to Broyles at TIL’s 90th annual conference, to be held April 17–19 in College Station at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center.
From TIL president, David Bowles: “William Broyles, Jr. has helped shape the cultural imagination of Texas and the nation for more than half a century. As a journalist, essayist, novelist, editor, and screenwriter, he has brought intellectual rigor, narrative sweep, and deep humanity to every genre he has touched. Whether exploring the complexities of war, the mythos of the American West, or the inner landscapes of ordinary people tested by extraordinary circumstances, Broyles writes with clarity, courage, and moral seriousness. His work has expanded the reach of Texas letters onto the global stage, and his enduring body of work exemplifies the excellence and versatility this award was created to honor.”
Broyles first came to national prominence as a co-founder of Texas Monthly, where his incisive journalism helped redefine narrative nonfiction in the state and beyond. His essays—most notably “Why Men Love War”—have become touchstones in discussions of military service and the psychology of combat, drawing in part on his own experience as a Marine officer in Vietnam.
In addition to his distinguished career in journalism and nonfiction, Broyles has made an indelible mark on American film and television. He wrote or co-wrote screenplays for major motion pictures including Apollo 13, Cast Away, Jarhead, The Polar Express, and Flags of Our Fathers, bringing emotional depth and narrative precision to stories that have resonated with audiences worldwide. His work consistently balances spectacle with introspection, exploring themes of survival, duty, isolation, and resilience.
Broyles is also the author of acclaimed novels and works of nonfiction, including Brothers in Arms and Desert Crossing, and has written extensively on Texas history, politics, and culture. His contributions span media and decades, demonstrating a rare ability to move seamlessly between reportage, memoir, fiction, and cinematic storytelling.
When notified about being named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Broyles said, “I am deeply honored, surprised and grateful. I’ve been a part of TIL off and on for over fifty years. It’s been a great group, and it is still. It means so much to me.”
The membership of the Texas Institute of Letters consists of the state’s most respected writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, journalism, songwriting, drama, and scholarship. The membership includes winners of the Pulitzer Prizes in drama, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as prizes by PEN, fellowships from the MacArthur Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts, and awards from dozens of other regional and national institutions.
Contact:
David Bowles
President
Texas Institute of Letters
president@texasinstituteofletters.org
