Served as a staff sergeant in the Army during World War II in France, Germany and Austria. He was awarded a Bronze Star medal for valor for pulling wounded soldiers to safety in the line of fire.
Graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor of science degree in 1950.
Was also known as Robert David Mullins.
Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1962 for his story of a murder and kidnapping at Dead Horse Point in July of 1961. Working in remote Utah, he was able to gather information in the crime case that even the FBI didn't have.