School of Journalism and Telecommunications: Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame Inductees

Editor of The Blood-Horse 1963-1986. Oversaw the magazine’s growth from a circulation of less than 7,000 to 22,000. Wrote weekly “What’s Going on Here” column; described as “the Thoroughbred industry’s conscience.” Served in the Army, then began journalism career as news photographer and sports writer for the Lexington Leader. During editorship of The Blood-Horse, served as president of National Turf Writers Association and Thoroughbred Club of America. Chaired the Racing Hall of Fame Committee. After retirement from The Blood-Horse, wrote columns for The Racing Times and Thoroughbred Times and served as a Distinguished Lecturer in equine law at University of Louisville. Wrote five books, including The Kentucky Thoroughbred. Received undergraduate and law degrees from University of Kentucky. Died in May 1999.

Co-owner and news director at WRUS-AM, Russellville, the only radio station in Logan County. Has been with WRUS since 1958 and continues to do 6:00-11:00 a.m. morning show including news, interviews, and listener calls. Began his career at WLCK-AM in Greensburg, his hometown, at 16. Received Kentucky Broadcasters Association Kentucky Mike Award in 2005. Attended Western Kentucky University.

Staff photographer for The Courier-Journal and The Louisville Times for more than 35 years, traveling throughout the state, often on very short notice. Named photography assignments editor in 1982, a position he held through his retirement in 1995. Part of Pulitzer Prize-winning team for 1975 coverage of court-ordered busing for school desegregation. Won numerous awards from National Press Photographers Association, Society of Professional Journalists, International Association of Firefighters. Work has been published in Time and Life magazines and newspapers across the U.S. Active in the Society of Professional Journalists; helped develop student chapter at Western Kentucky University.

Born in Winchester, Kentucky, attended the University of Louisville and Ohio State University. Began his broadcast career at WMCA in Ashland in 1942. From 1943 to 1946, was with WAVE in Louisville; began broadcasting University of Kentucky football games in 1945. From 1946 until 1962 Sullivan was associated with WVLK in Lexington broadcasting UK football and basketball games. In 1951, he organized the Standard Oil Sports Network, which included more than twenty stations carrying football and basketball broadcasts originating in thirty- seven states. Named "Kentucky's Outstanding Broadcaster" by the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters from 1959 to 1964; received the "Golden Mike" award from the Kentucky Broadcaster's Award in 1967. Died December 6, 1967.

Executive director of Kentucky Press Association, since September 1983. Transformed KPA into one of the top 10 press associations in the U.S., providing member newspapers with legal services, lobbying pressure, professional workshops, outstanding internship program and statewide classified advertising placement service. Previously held positions in both broadcast and print journalism, including serving as publisher and editor of the Georgetown News & Times. Past president of Newspaper Association Managers, international organization of state, regional and national press association executive directors. 1974 journalism graduate of the University of Kentucky.

Chief of WAVE-TV’s Frankfort bureau for 16 years, covering the Kentucky legislature, state politics, and numerous stories on education, health care, the environment and economic development. Produced at least one major story on each of Kentucky’s 120 counties. From 1976-1979, wrote Capitol Watchline column appearing in 15 newspapers. Regular panelist and frequent guest host on Comment on Kentucky. Won CPB’s Silver Award for News for 1992 KET election coverage. Part of WHAS-AM team that won several national awards for “The Appalachian Project” 1992 radio documentary. Born in Pikeville and a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, he now teaches broadcast journalism there.

“Mr. Kentucky High School Sports.” Covered high school sports for The Courier-Journal for 41 years, retiring in 2000. Covered all high school sports, boys and girls, including every football game between Louisville stalwarts Trinity and St. Xavier between 1968 and 2000. His presence at a game signaled that the game was special. Member of the Kentucky All-Star Basketball Hall of Fame. Received distinguished service award from National High School Coaches Association in 1991. Received journalism degree from University of Kentucky.

Adviser to Western Kentucky University's College Heights Herald, where students call him "Mr. A," since 1968. Newspaper has won numerous national awards during his tenure, including 10 Pacemaker Awards (as of 2004). Herald was named to the Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame in 1989. Adviser to WKU's award-winning yearbook, the Talisman, 1990-1996 and 2002-present. As Director of Student Publications, has guided and nurtured the careers of hundreds of journalists throughout Kentucky and beyond. Named outstanding four-year university newspaper adviser by National Council of College Publications Advisers in 1978. Began career as reporter and acting sports editor for the Bowling Green Daily News; later was publisher or co-publisher of five weekly newspapers in Kentucky and Tennessee. Holds bachelor's and master's degrees from WKU.

Varied career as reporter, publisher, newspaper owner, and journalism educator. Began as Henderson Gleaner sports editor in 1963 prior to becoming managing editor of the Kentucky Kernel in 1966. After college, wrote for The Evansville Courier, The Gleaner, and The Evansville Press. Bought The News Enterprise in Ludlow in 1988, then the three weekly Recorder Newspapers in 1990, serving as president, CEO and publisher. Sold the papers to The Community Press Newspapers in 1994 and served as senior publisher and chairman of the editorial board for three more years. President of Kentucky Press Association in 1997. From 2001-04, was a Freedom Forum visiting professional at Hampton University, teaching a variety of journalism courses and developing the first-ever horsemanship program at a historically black university. Currently Equine Director for the Kentucky Equine Education Project, combining his journalism skills with his love of horses and horsemanship.

More than 40 years in broadcasting, including News Director-Anchor, WBKR-WOMI, Owensboro, since 1985. Recipient of numerous awards, including 2000 Kentucky General Assembly recognition and 2000 Mayor's Award of Excellence, both related to the stations' coverage of the January 2000 Owensboro tornado. Outstanding public servant; recognized as a Kentucky Colonel. Assistant manager/president of the board of the WBKR-WOMI Bell South Pioneers Christmas Wish program that helps 6,000 individuals annually. Chair or co-chair of numerous other public service committees working on efforts for Owensboro veterans, children, and the homeless. Prior to joining WBKR-WOMI, worked in radio and television in Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and California.

Worked for WHAS Radio and Television in Louisville from 1958 until 1978, starting as a newscast script writer before moving to on-air reporting and specializing in politics and government. Joined The Courier-Journal as a reporter; became political writer in December 1979, a post he held nine years. Became an assistant city editor in 1989 and assistant regional editor supervising state and Washington coverage, in 1991. As dean of Kentucky political reporters, covered 12 national political conventions, every regular and special session of the Kentucky General Assembly from 1964 through 1988 and every election from 1963 through 1988. Known for his keen understanding of politicians and their strategies. Retired from The Courier-Journal in 1997.

One of the first women general reporters for a Southern newspaper; covered drama, music, and murder cases for Lexington Herald and served as farm editor from 1917-18. First woman journalism teacher in the United States; taught at the University of Kentucky for 38 years until 1950. Assisted Enoch Grehan in founding the UK School of Journalism. Her students included Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame members Joe Creason, Niel Plummer and Don Whitehead. Received "Pro Ecclesiae et Pontificae" medal from Pope Pius XII in early 1950s, highest award available to a Catholic laywoman. Recipient of numerous awards and honors from the University of Kentucky Alumni Association. After retirement from UK, served as president of Welsh Printing Company. Died November 25, 1961.

Came to Kentucky in 1968 after working for KING Broadcasting Company and Time, Inc. magazines. Joined the Sunday Magazine staff of The Courier-Journal and Times in 1968; won national Education Writers' Association award in 1970. WHAS-TV and radio commentaries, "One Man's Opinion," won Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Journalism award for best television editorial in 1971. From 1974-1981, wrote pioneering column of media criticism, "In All Fairness," published in The Courier Journal; received Louisville Bar Association Gavel Award in 1976 for that column. Also developed series of "Minding the Media" reports for WHAS and hosted weekly public radio discussion program, "Good Authority," which later moved to WHAS radio. Joined University of Louisville in 1984 and helped create forums and seminars to foster better communication between Kentucky news media, courts, and attorneys. Received a second Gavel Award in 1994 for this work. Author of John Sherman Cooper: Global Kentuckian.

Became WHAS Radio’s first News Director in 1972. (Before that time WHAS had maintained a combined news operation serving both radio and TV.) Was the voice of WHAS’ 5 p.m. “Broadcast of Record” throughout the 1970s; directed coverage of major events including the tornadoes of 1974 and the 1975 implementation of school busing in Jefferson County. Put together one of the largest local radio news operations in the country as WHAS-FM was converted to Kentucky’s first all-news station in 1975. Hosted several KET broadcasts and syndicated the radio program Pondering Kentucky in the 1980s, broadcast daily for over ten years on some 85 Kentucky radio stations. During his broadcasts, left little doubt of his deep love of the Commonwealth and its people. Serves today as Senior Ambassador and Chief Operating Officer of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

After working as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press, the National Newspaper Association and the Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette, Maria Braden spent 21 years teaching journalism at the University of Kentucky. Before retiring in 2001, she taught courses in news reporting, magazine article writing, journalism ethics, public affairs reporting, media diversity and etymology. She also wrote articles and book reviews for a variety of newspapers and magazines, and published three books: She Said What: Interviews with Women Newspaper Columnists (1993); Women Politicians and the Media (1996); and Getting the Message Across: Writing for the Mass Media (with Rick Roth, 1997). Braden received a national teaching award for excellence in teaching of writing from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, and was the first woman promoted to full professor in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. Regretfully, Maria passed away in July of 2004. She will be missed.

John Egerton is an independent journalist and nonfiction author who has written broadly about social and cultural issues in the southern region of the United States. Born in Atlanta in 1935 and raised in Kentucky, where he got his formal education, he has lived for most of the past half-century in Nashville, Tennessee, with sojourns in Florida, Virginia, and Texas. His books and articles seek to make connections between historical and contemporary people, places, and events in the South. Among his books are The Americanization of Dixie, Generations, Southern Food, and Speak Now Against the Day.

Has represented numerous outlets for over three decades, including The Courier-Journal and Louisville Times Company, The New York Times Company, Gannett Co., Inc., The Hearst Corporation, The Kentucky Press Association, The Associated Press, assorted broadcasting outlets and public relations companies. Has been actively involved in creating legislation protecting the press in Kentucky, including authoring the Open Meetings and Open Records Acts as well as the Retraction Statute. Has actively litigated most major media issues in Kentucky, including defamation issues, invasion of privacy cases, access to information and source protection. The only Kentucky lawyer listed in The Best Lawyers in America, listed for media law. Education: J.D., University of Pennsylvania, magna cum lade (1970), Editor of The Law Review and B.A., Swarthmore College (1967).

Born in 1896 near Bewelyville in Breckinridge County, Kentucky. Became the first woman editor of the Kentucky Kernel, first woman editor of the Kentuckian, and the first woman to graduate from the University of Kentucky's School of Journalism. Began working for the Lexington Herald while at UK, and was later promoted to State Editor, becoming the first woman to be state editor of a daily newspaper in Kentucky and one of the first in the nation. Married Tom Underwood, who became managing editor of The Hearld. At age 60, she returned to UK to earn a master's degree in Library Science. Joined the staff at the university library where she combined her journalism and library skills to edit the Barkley papers and edit the library newsletter. Died in Lexington May 14, 1991.

Host, National Public Radio's Morning Edition. Held position since program was launched in November 1979, when asked to temporarily host the program. His national audience has grown to more than 9 million listeners daily, with more than 13 million people listening to him at least once a week. A Louisville native, he graduated from the University of Louisville and earned his master's degree in broadcast journalism from The American University. Numerous awards include the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Edward R. Murrow Award, citing his "editorial leadership and on-air performance, Bob has created a standard for the industry." In 1999, he and Morning Edition received the George Foster Peabody Award. The Peabody Committee praised him as "a man who embodies the essence of excellence in radio." Author of Fridays with Red, a memoir of his 12 years of live conversations with legendary sportscaster Red Barber. Working on second book, a brief biography of Edward R. Murrow, and memoir that addresses his concerns about the deterioration of standards and values that afflicts journalism today.

Editor, publisher and owner, the Jackson Times in Breathitt County and Beattyville Enterprise in Lee County. A longtime board member of the Kentucky Press Association, was named most valuable member in 1997, recognizing more than 22 years of service. Recipient of 1987 Lewis Owens Community Service Award from Lexington Herald-Leader. As a graduate of Cumberland College and student at Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College, she taught first grade at Hardburly Mining Company school in Perry County. Active in education of retarded children. Hired as a cub reporter at the Hazard Herald. Later reported roving pickets strife in coalfields in the early 1960s. Active volunteer worker and leader for 30 years in native Appalachia. Participated in successful campaign to make Lees College part of Hazard Community College. Member, Lees College Board of Trustees. First woman president of Natural Bridge Park Association. Received Eugene H. Combs Humanitarian Award.

Pioneering African-American journalist and news executive, champion of diversity in newsrooms. A Louisville native, he grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and Campbellsburg, Ky. Graduated from Kent State University in 1963 and worked for the Dayton Journal Herald before becoming the first African-American reporter for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland in 1963. Served two years in the U.S. Army, returning to the Plain Dealer in 1966. Served as an assistant city editor from 1971 to 1973 before returning to reporting; named city editor in 1978 and managing editor in 1981. Joined the Detroit Free Press in 1986 as deputy managing editor; named managing editor/news in 1987, then managing editor in 1993. First African-American president of the Associated Press Managing Editors (1995), and the first to head news operations at the Free Press when promoted to executive editor in 1996. Received the 2001 John S. Knight Gold Medal, the highest honor given an employee of Knight-Ridder, parent of the Free Press. Five-time Pulitzer Prize juror. Died April 12, 2002 at age 60.

Political columnist, reporter, editor and bureau chief for the Courier-Journal. A native of Owensboro and graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan College, he began his reporting career at the Owensboro Messenger Inquirer while in college. Worked for the Lexington Herald, the Cynthiana Democrat and the Louisville Times before joining the Courier-Journal. Assigned to paper's Bowling Green Bureau before being named urban affairs writer in Louisville. Subsequently served as political editor, Washington bureau chief and Frankfort bureau chief -- the only reporter in Courier-Journal history to fill all three posts. Covered 1975, 1979 and 1983 Kentucky governor's races and 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns. Started the Courier-Journal's popular Sunday political column. His knowledge of politics and engaing personality won him easy access to politicians. Was particularly adept at profiling personalities and relationships that shape politics. Died May 1, 1984, at age 45, of a cerebral hemorrhage while covering the Indiana's governor's race.

Reporter, editor and administrator in 10 Associated Press (AP) offices, including AP's headquarters in New York. He began his AP career as a newsman in Austin, followed by news assignments in Dallas and Houston. Represented AP's broadcast division in the Rocky Mountain states while stationed in Denver, then returned to Texas and for two years served as AP's broadcast sales representative for the state. In 1970, he returned to the news side, running the AP bureau in Spokane, Washington. In 1971, he was appointed bureau chief in Salt Lake City. Following a brief assignment in Utah and Idaho, he was promoted to chief of bureau in upstate New York, based in Albany where he served for seven years before moving to AP's headquarters. Following administrative assignments in New York and Washington, D.C., Staats returned to the news side with his appointment as Kentucky chief of bureau in 1984, a position he held until retiring from his 41-year career in 2002.

Editor of the State Journal of Frankfort, he won plaudits in Frankfort and Washington as an aggressive, incisive and intelligent reporter whose curiosity had no boundaries. Once becoming an editor, he used his experience, work ethic and patience to improve an already good medium-sized daily and to nurture and develop a generation of youthful journalistic talent. A Campbell County native who studied journalism at the University of Kentucky, he was a Frankfort correspondent for the Kentucky Post and covered the White House and Pentagon in Washington for the Scripps Howard News Service. A career highlight was his coverage of Watergate, the scandal that drove President Richard Nixon from office. West's contribution to Kentucky goes beyond journalism. He is also the founder of the Kentucky Book Fair, one of the state's most important annual literary and cultural events. Profits from the Book Fair go to local libraries.

Director, School of Journalism and Broadcasting, Western Kentucky University. A 1959 broadcasting graduate of Miami University, she later earned a master's degree in communication arts from Xavier University in 1962. Led Western Kentucky University's journalism department for more than a dozen years, started in 1987. In 1999, named director of the school, overseeing 21 full-time faculty members, six undergraduate degree programs and more than 850 undergraduate majors. Spent 20 years with the Cincinnati Enquirer in various reporting and editing positions. Served as Kentucky executive editor from 1979 to 1981, leaving to become editor and publisher of the Sturgis (Mich.) Journal. While serving as editor and publisher of the Public Opinion, spear-headed county development program that led to establishment of Office of Economic Development and first cooperative venture among five chambers of commerce in Franklin County, Pa. Also spent a year as a general news executive with Gannett in Rosslyn, Va., just prior to joining WKU. Led the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication as president from 1993 to 1994, and honored as the 2000 Gerald Sass Journalism Administrator of the Year by Freedom Forum/ASJMC.

Editor of the Lexington Herald and the Lexington Herald-Leader from 1979 to 1991, a time when the paper was transformed from a provincial middle-market daily to a regional newspaper of influence in Kentucky. Raised the paper's standards, challenged the staff and supported the merger of the morning Herald and the afternoon Leader in 1983. Under his leadership, the paper won a Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for a series of articles about corruption in the University of Kentucky men's basketball program. The paper was a Pulitzer Prize finalist four times from 1988 to 1990 and won many other national awards. Directed a series of editorials on domestic violence in Kentucky, resulting in the paper's second Pulitzer in 1992. Scholarship at Alice Lloyd College for needy students in Appalachian Eastern Kentucky established in his honor. Left the Herald-Leader in 1991 to become editor of the combined Baltimore Sun newspaper; currently editor and executive vice president of the Los Angeles Times.

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kentucky Educational Television. Seventh-generation Kentuckian and 1961 elementary education graduate of Morehead State University. Received master's degree in library science from the University of Kentucky in 1969, after joining KET in 1968. Became deputy executive director in 1975. Left KET in 1980 to become president of the Southern Educational Communications Association, later earning a 21st Century Award from America's Public Television Stations for SECA service; became the founding director of the Satellite Educational Resources Consortium, the first public broadcaster/Department of Education interstate consortium for distance learning. Also created the first National Independent Television Satellite Schedule, serving more than 23 million students annually. First public broadcasting representative selected by the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers for the Independent Television Service Board. As an active volunteer in many civic, professional and educational organizations, served as a consultant, adviser and volunteer on numerous boards. In addition, served as founding director of the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives.

Distinguished careers as attorney, editor and publisher; also made his mark as a civic leader and philanthropist. Native of Owensboro and 1950 graduate of Princeton University. Graduated from University of Michigan Law School in 1954, the same year he joined the firm that would become Sandidge, Holbrook, Craig and Hager in 1960, when he became a partner. In 1973, became co-publisher and co-editor of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. Tackled tough issues, including a radical overhaul of Kentucky's court system, which led to an American Bar Association Silver Gavel award in 1976. When named president and publisher in 1989, the Messenger-Inquirer had added higher education to the list; through his leadership with the Citizens Committee on Higher Education, Owensboro gained an independent community college. The newspaper earned the American Society of Newspaper Editors' designation as one of the 14 best small newspapers in America. In 1996, named Kentucky Press Association's "most valuable member." His energies and passion now focus on the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro, created with his family to foster community dialogue to resolve important public issues, ranging from childcare and school drop-outs, to healthcare access and riverfront development.

Award-winning chief photographer for Louisville WLKY-TV. Career spans 40 years from motion pictures, to films for the South Vietnamese Army, to shooting for Japanese and American television. Worked for NBC and ABC in Saigon for nine years. Captured some of the most vivid, historically significant images of the Vietnam War, including film coverage of the young girl whose clothes were burned from her back when her village was hit by napalm. Many remember this same image from the Pulitzer-Prize winning photograph. Heralded by NBC News President Julian Goodman as "a powerful piece of film which has now become of historic importance" and earned third-place National Press Photographers Association Spot News award. As sound man for NBC when a Viet Cong suspect was executed by a South Vietnamese general, he told his photographer to quickly unload and reload his camera. Moments later, the general ordered all film seized, but Dinh had already tucked away the film in his jacket. Dangerous assignments led to his being wounded, and also escaping serous injury when a military helicopter crashed in Vietnam. Shortly after arriving at WLKY-TV, he survived a helicopter crash on I-71 while covering a snowstorm. Dinh worked at the Louisville station for 24 years, with seven as chief photographer. In 1998, he received the Board of Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Science - that organization's highest honor.

News director at Louisville's WHAS-AM radio station for 21 years. Graduate of Michigan State University with bachelor's and master's degrees in broadcast journalism. First winner of the Radio and Television News Directors Association Geller Newsroom Management Achievement Award in 2000. Award was created to "bring attention to those who create and foster a newsroom environment that stimulates productivity, growth and development." Praised for not only teaching his fellow journalists, but joining in writing, editing and producing their stories. Led WHAS-AM to become one of the most respected local news operations in the country, winning an unprecedented four George Foster Peabody awards, broadcast's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize; two National Associated Press Awards; four Headliner Awards; and recognition from RTNDA as the best local news department in the United States. Tackled difficult issues of importance to the community through in-depth coverage, including a five-part documentary on Appalachia, a five-part series and talk show on mental illness and a documentary on homelessness in Louisville. In addition, broadcast the morning drive-time news to listeners for 21 years. Taught journalists to tell stories about issues through the people they affect, to use the "art of sound" in all stories, to take risks and leave no stone unturned, and that no story was ever out of reach.

Native of Lee County and longtime columnist for the Whitesburg Mountain Eagle. After graduation from Kentucky Wesleyan College became a second grade and high school English teacher in the Whitesburg schools for three decades; started the high school newspaper. In her weekly column, “Family and Friends,” which was signed simply “Virginia,” she wrote about the small happenings in the community—births, deaths, marriages, honors, who had who to dinner and little things about herself. Her columns contained wise sayings, home remedies, political commentary, and small town happenings that the readers loved, including doses of English grammar usage. She kept it up for more than 40 years, even after she had moved to Lexington in later life. One civic leader said, “She had a heart of gold and a love for her students.” While at Kentucky Wesleyan she played basketball and in 1997 was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Author of two books and active in local clubs and church organizations, she was recognized for outstanding service by Letcher County and Kentucky Wesleyan among others. Her “unselfish spirit” was stilled on July 9, 2000, at age 99.

Native of Maysville; began broadcasting career on radio station WFTM while a high school student. Early career in Wilmington, Delaware, and the American Forces Network in Germany. Was weekend news anchor and production director for five years at WKYT-TV, Lexington; program director for WLAP Radio. Has written three columns a week for Cincinnati and Kentucky Post since 1989. Work has been reprinted nationally. Was host and writer-researcher for American Movie Classics’ cable channel and a syndicated radio program, in each case searching for little-known facts about movies and music of the last 75 years. Been in news and broadcasting for nearly 50 years. Has accumulated more than 300 awards, including Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More Presidential Medal from Thomas More College.

Native of Winchester; graduate University of Kentucky, 1965, where he was editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Kernel and first person to receive a master’s degree in Mass Communications. Early career in print journalism as a writer for the Courier-Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Detroit Free Press and the Lexington Leader; Neiman Fellow at Harvard, 1979-80. Entered broadcast journalism in 1983. Major contributor to public television programming. Currently director of science, natural history and features program for WNET Public Television as well as executive producer and executive in charge of production. Producer of The American President and Stephen Hawking’s Universe, among other major public television programs. Executive editor for Nova, and managing editor for award-winning series, Frontline. Major national awards include five from the National Council for the Advancement of Education Writing, two Charles Stewart Mott Education Writing Awards, American Bar Association Silver Gavel, two Peabody awards and six Emmys. Author of numerous publications and papers on a variety of subjects.

Publisher of three strong weekly newspapers in Kentucky—the Citizen Voice & Times in Irvine, the Clay City Times and the Flemingsburg Gazette. Was Kentucky’s youngest publisher when he bought his first paper in 1973 and was the youngest president of the Kentucky Weekly Newspaper Association—the only person to head that organization three times. President, Kentucky Press Association, 1998, during which time he visited every paper in the state. Named Most Valuable Member of Kentucky Press Association after serving on its board for 13 years and heading several important committees. Won 542 awards over the years from Kentucky Press Association, WKPA and the National Newspaper Association for excellence in writing, editing and photography. His Irvine paper named best Kentucky weekly in its class 16 times since 1975, and second best six times. Staunch defender of First Amendment. Uncovered many stories of corruption in government and schools in his area. Recognized by Boy Scouts of America for volunteer service.

Native Louisvillian; graduate, University of Louisville. Worked as reporter for four years, the Louisville Times, and in public relations at Brown-Forman Distilleries before joining WHAS-TV as reporter and news anchor. Joined WSB-TV in Atlanta, 1975, as news anchor for three evening newscasts. Won 23 local and Southern Regional Emmy Awards over the years. In 1992, the Woman’s Sports Foundation presented her the Women’s Sports Journalism Award for local television reporting for her investigative report on the Georgia High School Association for its exclusion of recognition of women. Recognized by Atlanta Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists for a documentary on menopause. Received two commendations from the National American Women in Radio and Television in competition with network programs. Received Woman of Achievement award from Metropolitan Atlanta YWCA; first black and second woman to head Metropolitan United Way; named 1993 Citizen-Broadcaster of the Year by Georgia Broadcasters Association, and 2001 Broadcaster of the Year at the University of Georgia.

Probably the last of the great personal journalists in Kentucky, a reputation earned as editor of the Kentucky Irish American, a feisty weekly newspaper published in Louisville from 1898 to 1968. John Michael “Mike” Barry was editor from 1950 until the paper ceased. Spent his entire lifetime working in various positions at the Irish American and later as a sports columnist for the Louisville Times. Also wrote a back-page sports column for his family newspaper, billing himself as “the world’s greatest handicapper.” Sports commentator for WAVE radio and television; track announcer. Served in the Pacific during World War II as a captain in the assault Signal Corps. Made his journalistic mark and gained a national reputation with blistering but amusing editorials in his weekly paper against local, state, and national political figures, especially “Happy” Chandler, Louie Nunn, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Joseph McCarthy. Regularly lambasted the Courier-Journal. Widely read and quoted throughout Kentucky. Famed American sports writer Red Smith once said, “Around our house the Kentucky Irish American rates above bread and just below whiskey as one of the necessities of life.” Barry died in 1992.

Native of Jeff in Perry County, got early newspaper experience as a high school sophomore writing high school regional sports news for the Courier-Journal. After attending Cumberland College, started work as news editor of the Hazard Herald in 1965. Four years later was named editor of the Eastern Kentucky Voice, a paper he later purchased along with the Tri-City News. Turned the Voice into a crusading weekly paper without regard for the whims and wishes of controlling forces in the county. Spoke out strongly against strip mining in the region, corrupt county officials and civic leaders, many times at his own peril. Frequently recognized for journalistic excellence by Kentucky Press Association. Sold his papers, moved to Lexington and started The Cats’ Pause, a new kind of tabloid newspaper dedicated to coverage of University of Kentucky sports. Instant success followed, and within 10 years the publication had paid subscribers in every state and some foreign countries. Paper was not a cheerleader or a muckraker but an appropriate blend of both. Sold the paper to Landmark Community Newspapers in 1997, but continues to write a regular column.

Native of Verda, Harlan County; graduate of University of Kentucky where he was editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Kernel. Named Outstanding Journalism Graduate in 1959. Worked for the Associated Press in Louisville and Lexington before joining the Courier-Journal, becoming chief of the Bluegrass Bureau. Served 10 years as a writer and editor for The National Observer, a national weekly published by Dow Jones & Co. Covered the 1968 presidential campaign and the anti-war demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago; also reported on the killing of four students at Kent State University by National Guardsmen. Was editor of the Miami Herald for 21 years, during which time his staff won two Pulitzer Prizes, one of which was awarded to the editorial board as a unit in 1983 for a year-long campaign to free Haitian boat people imprisoned in Miami. The second award went to the editorial cartoonist of the paper in 1996. Received Master of Arts degree in Communications and Journalism from Stanford University. Named to UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni, 1975.

Longtime award-winning newscaster at WHAS Radio. After graduation from Western Kentucky University in 1981 worked two years at radio stations in Eminence and Elizabethtown. Joined the news department of WHAS Radio in 1983 as a reporter; later became assistant news director. Received two Peabody Awards—one for a documentary about schizophrenia, another about Louisville’s House of Ruth, which ministers to women who have AIDS. Also won two national Associated Press awards, two Headliner Awards, two Scripps-Howard Awards, two national awards from the Radio-Television News Directors Association, one for best large market newscast in the nation, and two Gabriels. Produced numerous in-depth documentaries about a variety of topics and covered top local stories, including such varied events as the Carollton bus crash and the court-martial of a Louisville Marine given a new trial after being found guilty of assaulting the wife of a fellow Marine. Anchors late afternoon newscasts.

Native of Ashland; began his newspaper career at age 17 as a part-time sports writer for the Ashland Daily Independent. Later was a sports writer and copy editor in Huntington, Miami and Louisville. At age 25, named executive sports editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, followed by key editor positions at the Dallas Times Herald, Denver Post, Daily News of Los Angeles and the Orange County (CA) Register. Was managing editor in Denver and Orange County when papers won Pulitzer Prizes. Returned to Kentucky in 1989 as executive editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader; became editor two years later and publisher in 1996. The paper won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing while he was editor. Winner of the Ida B. Wells Award for diversity achievements in the news industry in 1999. Received the Knight-Ridder Excellence Award for community service in 1995 as a result of public-service journalism projects published by the Herald-Leader while he was editor. Honor graduate of University of Miami.

Trailblazing journalist believed to be the first African American to cross the color line into the newsroom of a metropolitan “white” newspaper. Born 1906 in Hopkinsville. Graduate of Tennessee State University. Moved to New York in 1928 during the last years of the Harlem Renaissance; became friends with some of its central figures. Worked several years for various black newspapers in New York and surrounding area; hired in 1936 by the New York Post, a newspaper known then as the liberal dissident in a field of conservative dailies. Covered numerous national stories for the Post, including the spreading civil rights movement in the South, the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, and the trial of Byron de la Beckwith for the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evars. His coverage in 1948 of the “Little Scottsboro” trial cited as one of the Top 100 Best Works of American Journalism by New York University School of Journalism; received the George Polk Award for excellence in national reporting. Called the “dean of black journalists,” he retired from the Post in 1972. Poston died in 1974.

Distinguished Louisville newspaper editor and publisher and champion of human rights. Born January 22, 1887 in Memphis, Tennessee. Graduated from Lemoyne Junior College in 1906 and later attended the University of Chicago. Started newspaper career as a carrier at age 12. Became owner, publisher and editor of the Louisville Leader in 1917, Kentucky’s first African-American daily, which boasted as its motto: “We print your news, we employ your people, we champion your cause.” At the Leader, Cole was a persistent champion of justice and fair play for African-Americans. Active in the fight against Jim Crow laws and the push against segregated recreation facilities and streetcars in Louisville, he wrote editorials that were quoted by local, regional and national publications. Helped mobilize support for bond issues to benefit black schools in Louisville. Congratulated by President Harry S Truman for his editorials just before his death in 1950. De-voted church member and civic leader. Member of the National Negro Press Hall of fame and inducted into the Distinguished Gallery of Black Newspaper Publishers in 1991. Historic highway marker in his honor dedicated in 1997. University of Louisville Archives houses what remains of daily issues of the paper, about 1,200 editions.

Native of Irvine, in Eastern Kentucky, now a popular sports columnist for the Voice-Tribune in Louisville. Writes a weekly syndicated sports column for papers across the state. Began his sportswriting career while a student at UK. Covered Transylvania University’s basketball and baseball teams and sports at Lafayette High School for the Lexington Herald. While in the Army, worked at the Indianapolis Star. Returned to the Herald in 1955. Joined the Courier-Journal where he worked for 33 years. In his role as executive sports editor of the combined sports department of the Courier-Journal and the Louisville Times, provided readers with excellent sports pages. Founder and president of Associated Press Sports Editors. Inducted into the prestigious Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997; staunch supporter of high school sports, and a member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. Named in 1998 as an “All-American” by the UK Jefferson County Alumni Association.

Western Kentucky newspaper editor and publisher. Born June 26, 1932 in Jersey City, NJ into a newspaper family. Educated in public schools there, graduated in 1953 from University of North Carolina, where he was editor of the Daily Tar Heel. Joined family-owned Gleaner and Journal, a morning daily, in Henderson in 1960, became publisher in 1963. He, his wife and three children purchased the Gleaner, seven west Kentucky weeklies from Dear Publication & Radio in 1986. As company president, he insisted on high standards and aggressive but fair community journalism. Believed strongly in giving young journalists an opportunity. Three photojournalists who launched careers at the Gleaner later won or shared in five Pulitzers. Active community leader, named Henderson’s Distinguished Citizen in 1992. Sold company to Dallas-based A.H. Belo Corp. in March 1997.

Legendary columnist for the Kentucky New Era in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, revered for his homespun tales that entertained Western Kentucky for decades. Born August 17, 1908, in Hopkinsville and a 1929 graduate of Georgetown College, Georgetown, Kentucky, and the University of Missouri. Joined the New Era in the fall of 1930 as a part-time sports writer and promoted to full-time reporter in February 1931. Worked continuously for the newspaper for six decades, except for a four-year stint in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945. Returned to the New Era after World War II and served as a reporter and editor for news and sports. Credited with writing the first news report about an alleged alien landing near a farmhouse in Kelly, Kentucky, in 1955, which created a nationwide flurry of coverage. Named editor and publisher 1965, the same year he began writing the daily “Watching the Parade” column. Hailed as the most popular feature in the New Era’s 120-year history, the column was a daily fixture in the newspaper, helping unite the Pennyrile region, preserve Hopkinsville’s rich history, spark interaction with readers and put current events into context. His conversational writing style and dry wit delighted generations of readers and served as inspiration for aspiring journalists in the region. Retired from the New Era in 1978, he continued to write his column until March 1993.

Longtime education and political reporter for the Courier-Journal. Native of Towanda, Pennsylvania and 1966 journalism graduate of the University of Kentucky. Editor, Kentucky Kernel. Served in the Army four years, including stint in Korea. Reporter for Lexington Leader, Frankfort State Journal and advisor to Kentucky Kernel. Also worked for University of Kentucky in preparation for its Centennial celebration. Joined the Courier-Journal in 1967. Spent two years in Louisville before joining Frankfort bureau, covering state government, politics, education and political campaigns for 16 years. In 1985, became Courier-Journal’s Bluegrass Bureau Chief in Lexington, where he continued to cover higher education and regional issues throughout Central Kentucky. Became known as one of the nation’s pre-eminent reporters concerning higher education issues. In 1984, won the Kentucky School Boards Association exemplary investigative reporting award for a series of stories with Richard Whitt, entitled “What’s Wrong with Kentucky Schools.” The series won the Kentucky Education Association’s Annual School Bell award. Longtime teacher of public affairs reporting at University of Kentucky and mentor of hundreds of young journalism students. Active member of UK Journalism Alumni Association board of directors.

Reporter, anchor and public affairs director for WLEX-TV in Lexington. Pioneer for women in television. Graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Began broadcast career in the 1950s in Cincinnati with WLWT-TV, WCPO-TV and WKRC-TV, where she did dramatics and voices for “The Storm,” a Rod Sterling show. In 1954, moved to Columbus, Ohio to work at WTVN-TV. In 1956, moved to Miami to work on new NBC affiliate, WCKT-TV, where she was a news reporter and midday news anchor. Was the first woman to be hard news reporter in the Miami market. Moved to Lexington in 1968 and began working for WLEX-TV. Stayed with WLEX for 30 years. Created the show, “Your Government,” in 1972. Interviewed governors, U.S. presidents and leading politicians throughout Kentucky and nation. Started radio talk show, “The Front Page with Sue Wylie,” in 1996 on WVLK. Earned several awards, including Associated Press awards for TV Series and Reporting for Excellence. Also won the Kentucky Broadcasters Association award for Best News Series for her coverage of the Eddyville Penitentiary.

Native of Indianapolis; journalism graduate, Indiana University. Started career at the Richmond News-Leader as reporter before moving to the Courier-Journal as a copy editor in 1960. Later served as a reporter, acting Sunday editor, assistant city editor, city editor before becoming one of the nation’s youngest managing editors in 1966, for a period of eight years. Covered civil rights movement and early U.S. space missions as reporter. The Courier-Journal won two Pulitzer Prizes under his leadership. Switched to business side of operations in 1974, becoming general manager and later president of all Bingham media properties. Named publisher of the newspapers when they were sold to Gannett in 1986. Received Outstanding Alumnus Award from Indiana University, 1984; honorary degree, 1994. As a civic leader he headed the Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership, Metro United Way fund drive, Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce and Louisville Rotary Club. Served on numerous community boards. Currently chairman of trustees, American Printing House for the Blind. Retired as president and publisher of the Courier-Journal in 1993 after a career of 33 years.

Journalism graduate, University of Kentucky, 1955; native of Virginia. Early career as sports writer at the Lexington Leader following postgraduate work at UK. Joined WAVE Radio and Television in 1961 as a city hall reporter, later specializing in political coverage. Responsible for coverage of city and county government and the legislature, along with gubernatorial and other state and national elections over the past 36 years. Broke the story of the collapse of Prudential and American building and loan associations in the 1970s. Covered floods of 1964 and 1997, open housing demonstrations of 1967, tornados of 1974 and 1996, school desegregation and court-ordered busing in 1975, and other top stories including seven national political conventions. Has won seven awards from local Society of Professional Journalists chapter, two Gavel Awards from Louisville Bar Association for coverage of courts, a regional Emmy award, several AP awards for commentary, and a Gabriel Award from the Catholic Broadcasters Association of America for an open housing documentary.

Native of Irvine, Ky.; journalism graduate, University of Kentucky, 1960; editor, Kentucky Kernel. Started as a sports reporter, Lexington Herald before joining the Associated Press, working first in Louisville, then Lexington and next in Frankfort as capital correspondent. Covered Combs administration and bitter Breathitt-Chandler campaign. Moved to Baton Rouge and then to Washington as economic correspondent. Joined the Chicago Tribune in 1974 covering the economy and politics and served two stints as White House correspondent. Was a Pulitzer Prize runner-up for his 1979 series on world trade. Wrote nationally syndicated column on economics. Author of two books, Volker, Portrait of the Money Man, and The Work Revolution. Winner of numerous national awards, including two John Hancock Business Writing Awards, Loeb Business Writing Award, Raymond Clapper Memorial Award and Merriman Smith Award.

Started her journalism career as receptionist and reporter for the Shelby News in 1971. A year later became a staff writer for the merged Sentinel-News. Served as classified advertising manager and Family Living editor before being named news editor in 1982. Became editor in 1989, responsible for two newspapers a week, a weekly shopper and 12 special sections a year. Paper won numerous awards from Kentucky Press Association for journalistic excellence under her leadership. Received awards from local chapter of Society of Professional Journalists and received first Landmark Community Newspapers award for community service. Active in the community, received Shelbyville Business Professional Woman of Achievement award, Kentucky Farm Bureau Communications Award, and Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocate of the Year award. Co-founded Shelby County Literacy Council and also serves as volunteer writing teacher and Sunday School teacher. Named community relations coordinator for Shelby County Public Schools, 1998.

Native of Mount Sterling; graduate of Transylvania University. Started sports writing career in 1959 for the Lexington Herald-Leader; left in 1966 to join sports staff of the Courier-Journal. Worked for Sports Illustrated in 1968 but returned to Kentucky in 1972 as a special projects reporter for the Courier-Journal. Won National Headliner Award and Sigma Delta Chi Award for stories written by him and Jim Bolus about fixed races and problems in the thoroughbred racing industry. Became general columnist for the Courier-Journal in 1974; was named sports editor in 1977. Rejoined the Herald-Leader in 1987 as sports columnist and became senior writer for Sports Illustrated in 1990. Named Kentucky Sports Writer of the Year eight times, won two Eclipse Awards and a National Headliner Award for consistently outstanding sports column in 1982, and numerous other national awards. Author of six books. Received Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Service awards from Transylvania University. Past-president, National Turf Writers Association.

Native of Henderson, graduate of University of Kentucky in English and journalism; Master’s degree in Public Administration from Indiana State University. Former teacher, joined Evansville Printing Corporation in 1971 as Newspaper in Education coordinator, later becoming director of community affairs and associate editor of Evansville Press. Became editor of Sunday Courier and Press in Evansville in 1978. Named editor of the Kentucky Post in 1983 and special projects director for the Scripps newspaper division in 1995. Became president and chief executive officer of the Scripps Howard Foundation the next year. Wrote a nationally-syndicated newspaper column distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, later produced in book form. Author of New Guardians of the Press, a book profiling women newspaper editors. Two honorary doctorate degrees from University of Southern Indiana; inducted into University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni, 1989; former board member, American Society of Newspaper Editors; president, Kentucky Associated Press Editors Association, 1985.

Native of Bowling Green and graduate of Louisville Male High School. Attended Purdue University studying mechanical and electrical engineering, but became interested in journalism and served as managing editor of the student newspaper. Started journalism career as managing editor of two small newspapers in Attica, Indiana. Joined the Courier-Journal in 1937 where he served as a reporter, Indiana editor, assistant city editor, assistant state editor and make-up editor before World War II. Served in U.S. Navy as air intelligence officer. After the war, went to Frankfort where he was a member of the Frankfort bureau of the Courier-Journal for 23 years, of which 17 were as bureau chief. Was part of the team of reporters that won the Pulitzer Prize for the paper for coverage of strip mine abuses and for helping bring about more strict controls. Covered 22 regular and special sessions of the legislature, becoming highly knowledgeable on the workings of the General Assembly, state finances and Kentucky politics. Left the paper in 1969 and served for 10 years on the Legislative Research Commission. Won a Nieman Fellowship in 1950 at Harvard University.

Native of Kansas where he grew up on a farm and later served as a B-29 gunner in the U.S. Air Force before attending Kansas State University. Started his broadcast career in Kentucky in 1958 as news director and drive-time news anchor for WKLO Radio. Became news director and anchorman for WLKY-TV in 1964 and then served for seven years, starting in 1970, as anchorman and reporter on WHAS-TV. Returned to WLKY-TV as the station’s news anchor. Received a regional Radio-Television News Directors Association award for his coverage of the Hyden, Ky. coal mine disaster and led the coverage for WHAS-TV of the tornado in 1974 and the court-ordered busing crisis, for which the station received a national Sigma Delta Chi award. Served two years as president of the Louisville chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and was the first recipient of the chapter’s Kentucky Journalist Award for outstanding achievement in journalism.

Joined WHAS Radio and Television in 1958 after receiving a BA degree from Kalamazoo College and a Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University. Was political reporter for the station and anchor person for the noon and evening news broadcasts; also anchor for area’s first hour-long newscast. Named farm and garden director in 1979, and became one of the area’s most popular radio-television personalities. Co-authored three books on gardening, one of which, Fred Wiche’s Gardening Almanac, sold more than 50,000 copies and became the state’s most popular garden book. In addition to broadcasting duties, writes a syndicated newspaper column. Received the Kentucky Farm Bureau Communications Award in 1984, and in 1992 received the Gamma Sigma Delta Award for outstanding contributions to agriculture. Also recognized for service by the Society of Professional Journalists. Served in the U.S. Army in Korea.

Native of Winchester. Started newspaper career in 1954 as assistant to the publisher of the Winchester Sun. Became general manager in 1974 and was named publisher and executive vice president in 1988. Serves on the boards of Newspaper Association of American and Publishers Associated to Gain Economy. Became first woman president of Kentucky Press Association in 1986. Served as treasurer of the group for three years during a period of financial difficulty. Named Kentucky Press Association most valuable member in 1981 and 1983; received the Edward M. Templin award for community service in 1988. Active in other national newspaper organizations, such as National Newspaper Association and Southern Newspaper Publishers Association. Served on boards of many local community organizations and as vice president of Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce. Attended University of Kentucky. Taught Sunday School for 35 years.

Matriarch of the Bingham family which owned the Courier-Journal, the Louisville Times, WHAS, Inc. and other communications properties. Active in the operations, she was a book editor of the Courier-Journal, 1942-1968, an editorial writer during the World War II and a vice president and director of the companies. Throughout her life she was a fighter for causes: bookmobiles in rural Kentucky counties, environmental issues, the United Nations, relief to war-torn Europe, arts, education and libraries. Following the sale of their media empire in 1986, she and her husband gave nearly $60 million in philanthropic grants, including funds for the Louisville Falls Foundation and the Louisville waterfront. Native of Richmond, Virginia; graduate of Radcliffe College. Died April 18, 1995.

Native of Campbellsville. Graduate of Campbellsville College where he started his professional journalism career as sports editor and news editor of the Central Kentucky News. Later served as managing editor, editor and general manager of Central Kentucky News-Journal for more than a decade, following service in U.S. Army as sports editor and editor of a military newspaper in Thailand. Became general manager of News Publishing Co., Tell City, Indiana, and editor of Perry County News, winning top awards from Hoosier Press Association. Named vice president and executive producer of Landmark Community Newspapers, Shelbyville. Has served seven years as chair of the postal committee of National Newspaper Association, which awarded him its President’s Award in 1989, Ambassador Award in 1992 and prestigious Amos Award for service in 1994. President of Kentucky Press Association in 1987; received award as most valuable member in 1985 and 1988 and for community service in 1992. Serves on board of Sigma Delta Chi Foundation. President, Louisville chapter, Society of Professional Journalists, 1983-84.

Governor of Kentucky, 1939-1943; lieutenant governor, 1935-1939. First love was newspapering; bought the Mirror, a weekly at Elizabethtown, in 1919. Later sold it and completed journalism education at University of Kentucky in 1922, after which he bought the Anderson News, a weekly in Lawrenceburg. Purchased part interest in the Richmond Daily Register in 1925 and became co-publisher, a position he retained until his death. Served briefly as part-time reporter for the Lexington Herald. President, Kentucky Press Association, 1925; also president UK Alumni Association and member State Board of Education and Board of Regents, Eastern Kentucky State College. Undersecretary of Labor during Truman Administration; unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate, 1960. Vice president and director, Reynolds Metals Co. Served overseas in World War I as first lieutenant. Frugal governor who paid off state debt, left $10 million in surplus. Died February 7, 1970.

Born a slave at Bardstown on August 7, 1854. After the Civil War, joined his brother in Springfield, Ohio where he received a high school education. Began a weekly African–American newspaper in 1884 named the Ohio State Tribune. Becoming convinced that the Catholic Church was the great hope for African-Americans, Rudd transformed the newspaper into an African-American weekly called the American Catholic Tribune and moved it to Cincinnati and two years later to Detroit. The purpose of the paper was to present the Catholic faith to African-Americans since Rudd believed the Catholic Church was the great hope for his people. Helped establish the Catholic Press Association and the Afro-American Press Association. Though the paper ceased publication around 1899, Rudd traveled the country lecturing and went to Europe where he met with two Catholic cardinals. Served on the steering committee for the first general Catholic Congress in 1889 and continued his interest in the cause of Catholicism and African-Americans through his newspaper. Returned to his boyhood home where he died on December 3, 1933.

Broadcast industry leader for 39 years. Started journalism career at the Louisville Defender in 1941. Ten years later was hired as a part-time sports announcer for WLOU Radio. Shortly after he assumed full-time duties was named assistant manager of Rounsaville Radio, a chain of seven African-American formatted stations. Promoted to vice president and general manager in 1967 and became the first African-American in the U.S. to manage a radio station. Purchased WLOU in 1971, becoming the first African-American radio station owner in Kentucky. When WLOU was sold in 1982, he remained as management consultant until 1988. After release from the U.S. Army in 1947 became a deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and has held pastoral assignments in Taylorsville, Georgetown, Louisville, and Shelbyville. Serves as administrative assistant to the bishop of the 13th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church.

Native of Louisiana and graduate of Tuskegee University in Alabama, became the first African American hired as a news artist by the Courier-Journal in 1967. A year later, when racial violence broke out in Louisville, he was pressed into service as a reporter, enabling the paper to cover a major breaking story when there were almost no African Americans in the newsroom. Later named associate editor for development to assist in finding minority journalists for jobs with the paper. A past president of the National Association of Black Journalists, was responsible for the growth of NABJ into a major force in American journalism. Won the prestigious Ida B. Wells Award, given jointly by the National Conference of Editorial Writers and NABJ, for efforts to open opportunities for minorities in journalism. Founder and twice president of the Louisville Association of Black Communicators, former chairman of the minorities committee of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, adviser to journalism education programs at colleges in Kentucky and elsewhere. Won the Distinguished Service to Journalism Award, given by the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communications, in 1991. First recipient of the Association of Black Colleges of Journalism and Mass Communication’s highest award, named in his honor.

Retired radio-television executive for WAVE, Inc. Native of Bourbon County and journalism graduate of the University of Kentucky. Editor, Kentucky Kernel. Started career before World War II as a reporter for the Courier-Journal. Served in Navy for three-and-a-half years in Atlantic, Mediterranean and China-Burma-India theaters. Returned to the Courier-Journal, but joined WAVE Radio in 1946, later becoming program director. Was first television news director in Kentucky when WAVE-TV went on the air in 1948. Was radio and television promotion director before becoming radio general manager and then vice president of Orion Broadcasting. Former board member and president of Kentucky Broadcasters Association, vice chairman of National Association of Broadcasters Radio Board, member and chairman of NBC Affiliates Committee. Member, Kentucky House of Representatives, 1962-67; minority floor leader, 1966-67. Received Lincoln Key Award for role in passing South’s first Civil Rights bill. Former chairman, Louisville and Jefferson County Crime Commission. Active in civic affairs; currently secretary, UK Journalism Alumni Association.

Retired editor, Maysville Ledger-Independent and Daily Independent; served for 42 years. Continues to write regular column at age 87. Started work at newspaper in 1924. Steadfast proponent of community and industrial development, especially in advocacy of public housing, floodwall, county health department and community college. Co-founder of Maysville-Mason County Development Association and original member of the Maysville Community College Association and original member of the Maysville Community College Advisory Board. Outspoken supporter of civil rights, job creation, education and social equity. Chosen First Lady of the Year in 1953 by Beta Sigma Phi, Maysville’s Most Distinguished Citizen by the Chamber of Commerce in 1976 and Distinguished Alumni of Maysville High School in 1979. Long associated with historical restoration in the community. Held leadership positions in numerous civic and community efforts, as well as St. Patrick’s Church.

Native of Lexington, earned bachelor’s and master’s degree in Equine Genetics from University of Kentucky. Started journalism career with WVLK Radio, serving as sports announcer, news director and program director. Named sports director of WLEX-TV in 1969 and became announcer at the Keeneland sales. Started doing SEC basketball play-by-play for TVS network in 1980, the same year he helped form Hammond Productions, Inc., a video production company specializing in equine production. Hired as a reporter by NBC for first Breeder’s Cup telecast, which won an Eclipse Award. Has been with NBC serving as a Breeder’s Cup host or co-host since 1987. Year-round network duties include play-by-play for National Football League and University of Notre Dame football. Previous experience includes 1992 Olympics, National Basketball Association, NCAA basketball tournaments, college bowl games, major league baseball and other national world sporting events.

President and publisher of the Lexington Herald-Leader since 1988. Native of Knoxville. Started his newspaper career in 1956 as an advertising salesman for the Fort Worth Press, following his graduation from Gainesville College in Texas. Served in advertising management positions at the Gainesville (Texas) Daily Register, Charlotte Observer and News, Tallahassee Democrat before being named advertising director at the Lexington Herald-Leader in 1975. Later became vice president for sales and marketing and then general manager. Highly active in the community, served as campaign chairman and president of United Way of the Bluegrass, and as board chairman of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau. Was president of the Kentucky Press Association in 1984; Most Valuable Member, 1980. Currently serves on numerous civic and community boards and is vice president of the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation. An industry leader in circulation pricing, Newspapers in Education programs and newspaper production advancements.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Local Reporting in 1978, for his coverage in the Courier-Journal of the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Southgate, Ky. A native of Greencup County and a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Journalism, he started his career as a reporter with the Middlesboro Daily News in 1970. Was an assistant state editor of the Waterloo Daily Courier (Iowa) and city editor and assistant managing editor of the Kingsport Times-News (Tennessee) before joining the Courier-Journal in