it was on "60 minutes" that he reported on lynne lanelle jeter. all the things you've done, where do you stack this up, because you clearly had the most important impact you had on a man's life. >> for that very reason, the lanelle jeter story is the most important story. >> rose: he got out of prison. the woman who produced that was suzanne st. pierre. the associate producer researcher was marty palmer. we decided at the beginning, i was not convinced that lanelle jeter was incident because the court said he was guilty which is a good reason. there was a lot of funny stuff in the trial and questionable evidence, and i said to the other two, i said, look, let's assume he's guilty. let's go out on this story assuming justice happened to the extent he was found guilty but an injunctionties was done because you don't give a man a life sentence for a 25-buck robbery or something like that. and it was absolutely the way to go on the story because, as we peeled the layers off this onion, we became more and more convinced, as time went on -- it took six,

. >> reporter: the story about the wrongful imprisonment of lanel jeter that safer was most proud. >>the difference, in effect, to save a life is, pretty hot stuff. >> reporter: an accomplished career, he reflected upon, on my show in 1993. any regrets about this career you have had here? >> oh, gosh. no. >> nothing. wouldn't have done anything different? >> i mean how can -- talk about a -- a lucky, blessed life as a journalist. >> the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. ♪ 'cause you'll be in my heart ♪ ♪ yes, you'll be in my heart ♪ ♪ from this day on ♪ now and forevermore... narrator: if animals are our best friends, shouldn't we be theirs? visit your local shelter, adopt a pet. ♪ you'll be in my heart ♪ ♪ no matter what... cbs cares. ♪ no matter what... is one of the elemental thprivileges of a free people. endowed, as our nation is, with abundant physical resources... ...and inspired as it should be to make those resources and opportunities available for the enjoyment of all... ...we approach reemployment with real hope of finding a better answer than we have now. narrator:

. >> reporter: the story about the wrongful imprisonment of lanel jeter that safer was most proud. >>the difference, in effect, to save a life is, pretty hot stuff. >> reporter: an accomplished career, he reflected upon, on my show in 1993. any regrets about this career you have had here? >> oh, gosh. no. >> nothing. wouldn't have done anything different? a -- a lucky, blessed life as a journalist. runners on your mark! ♪music get set! ♪you're rolled out at the dawning of the day♪ (sfx:starter pistol shot) ♪heart racin' as you made your little get away ♪but there's always scars, when you fall back far♪ ♪we lose our way, we get back up again♪ ♪it's never too late to get back up again♪ ♪one day, you're gonna shine again,♪ ♪you may be knocked down but not out forever♪ ♪we lose our way, we get back up again♪ ♪it's never too late to get back up again♪ ♪and one day.... from college student to army soldier. then tragedy struck. my world turned upside dow

. >> reporter: in 1983, his report on lanel jeter became one of the show's proudest moments.eam uncovered new evidence, showing jeter had been wrongly convicted of armed robbery in texas. the report led to jeter's relief from a life sentence. safer also had a flair for the lighter side. he traveled the world. covering everything from the tango phrase in finland to british passion he documented good food, fine wine, great cars. >> awful puns. >> in one of 60 minutes anxiety most -- 60 minutes' most popular shows, he interviewed the muppets and took on the art world twice. first in the '90s, when it questioned the value of modern art. >> it's a white rectangle. >> right. >> again in 2012. >> kids are cute, clumsy. and the incomprehensible. >> reporter: but safer himself was an artist. he carried art supplies when he traveled. and spent his sleepless hours participating in his many hotel rooms. over his many years with 60 minutes, safer picked up dozens of the most prestigious awards in journalism. for a man who enjoyed telling stories, he always said there was no better job tha

. >> reporter: the story about the wrongful imprisonment of lanel jeter was most proud?> to makt difference, in effect, to save a life is, pretty hot stuff. >> reporter: an accomplished career, he reflected upon, on my show in 1993. any regrets about this career you have had here? >> oh, gosh. no. >> nothing. wouldn't have done anything different? >> i mean how can -- talk about a -- a lucky, blessed life as a, >>> we end tonight at the home of the eagles where one proud papa hatched a brood of them without shattering his nest egg. steve hartman found the story on the road. >> reporter: boston college one of the most prestigious private universities in the country. while there is certainly moneyen their trust fund. safe to say no one here feels any richer than the man in the mirror. >> i love being here. >> fred works overnights as a janitor at b.c. and this is the story of how he parlayed this relatively low paying job into a gold mine. thanks to a university policy that says if you work here, your kids can go here for free. assuming they're accepted. which is not easy.