William Dodson Broyles, Jr. is an American screenwriter, who has worked on the television series China Beach, and the films Apollo 13, Cast Away, Entrapment, Planet of the Apes, Unfaithful, The Polar Express, and Jarhead. He also assisted in the screenplay of Saving Private Ryan. He was married to the actress Linda Purl from 1988-92. Broyles was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Elizabeth and William Dodson Broyles. He was raised in Baytown, Texas and attended Rice University, earning a B.A. in History in 1966. While at Rice, Broyles was an active member of the student body and a... contributing editor to the student newspaper, the Rice Thresher. As early as 1966, Broyles was also contributing articles to the Houston Post. Broyles served as president of the Rice student association during the 1965-1966 academic year, and was awarded the Hugh Scott Cameron award for outstanding community service. He has remained a strong supporter of the University throughout his career, delivering the commencement speech in 1983, and receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1993.
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