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Kansas Press Association Hall of Fame

The Kansas Editors’ and Publishers’ Association was organized in 1863 to serve, improve, and promote the newspaper industry, and to protect the rights of a free press. A committee of the association met December 13, 1875, and formed the Kansas Historical Society to collect newspapers and manuscripts on the territorial period. These early newspaper publishers started the tradition of donating copies of all the newspapers published in Kansas to the Kansas Historical Society. Publishers became members of the Historical Society by donating issues of their newspapers. Through their efforts they provided the Historical Society with one of the most comprehensive collections of state newspapers in the nation.

As the Kansas Press Association, the organization began a Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1931 to honor journalists who have made outstanding contributions to their profession.

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1931 – Daniel Read Anthony, Leavenworth Times

1931 – Major J. K. Hudson, Topeka Daily Capital

1931 – Solomon Miller, Kansas Chief

1931 – Marshall M. Murdock, Wichita Eagle

1931 – Noble L. Prentis, Topeka and Newton editorial writer, Kansas City Star

1931 – Daniel W. Wilder, Annals of Kansas

1932 – Edward Wallis Hoch, Marion County Record

1933 – John A, Martin, Atchison Daily Champion

1934 – Moses Milton Beck, Holton Recorder

1934 – William E. Blackburn, Anthony Republican and Herington Sun

1935 – William Y. Morgan, Emporia Gazette and Hutchinson News

1936 – F. O. MacLennan, Emporia News and Topeka State Journal

1936 – George W. Marble, Fort Scott Tribune

1937 – John S. Gilmore, Wilson County Citizen

1937 – Thomas B. Murdock, El Dorado Republican

1939 – Harold T. Chase, Topeka Daily Capital

1939 – Tom E. Thompson, Howard Courant

1939 – John Mack, Newton Kansan

1940 – Edgar W. Howe, Atchison Globe

1941 – Charles F. Scott, Iola Register

1942 – Jack Harrison, Beloit Gazette

1942 – Bernard J. Sheridan, Western Spirit

1943 – Elmer E. Kelley, Toronto Republic and Garden City Herald

1943 – Leslie Wallace, Larned Tiller and Toiler

1944 – Clark Conkling, Lyons Republican

1944 – Will Townsley, Great Bend Tribune

1944 – William Allen White, Emporia Gazette

1945 – Charles Sessions, Topeka Daily Capital

1946 – Frank J. Jarrell, Holton Signal

1947 – David Leahy, Wichita Eagle

1948 – Victor Murdock, Wichita Eagle

1949 – Herbert Ewing, Hiawatha Daily World

1950 – Clyde M. Reed, Sr., Parsons Sun

1951 – O. W. Little, Alma Enterprise, Kansas Press Association

1952 – Henry J. Allen, Wichita Beacon and Topeka State Journal

1953 – Gomer T. Davies, Concordia Kansan

1954 – Arthur Capper, Topeka Daily Capital

1955 – W. C. Simons, Lawrence Journal-World

1956 – John Redmond, Burlington Daily Republican

1957 – Jess C. Denious, Sr., Dodge City Daily Globe

1958 – Charles M. Harger, Abilene Reflector-Chronicle

1958 – Paul A. Jones, Lyons Daily News

1959 – Fay N. Seaton, Manhattan Mercury

1960 – Frank W. Boyd, Phillips County Post

1961 – Frank Motz, Ellis County News and Hays Daily News

1962 – Gene Howe, Atchison Globe

1963 – Leon N. Flint, chair, department of journalism, University of Kansas

1964 – A. Q. Miller, Belleville Telescope

1965 – Earl Fickertt, Peabody Gazette-Herald

1966 – Fred Brinkerhoff, Pittsburg Headlight and Morning Sun

1966 – Arthur J. Carruth, Jr., Topeka State Journal

1967 – Willard Mayberry, Tri-State News

1968 – Bertha Shore, Augusta Daily Gazette

1969 – L. F. Valentine, Clay Center Times-Dispatch

1970 – Will T. Beck, Holton Recorder

1971 – Angelo C. Scott, Iola Register

1972 – John P. Harris, Harris Group

1973 – Ernest Woodword, Oberlin Times and Oberlin Herald

1973 – Marcellus Murdock, Wichita Eagle-Beacon

1974 – Roy Bailey, Salina Journal

1974 – Wharton Hoch, Marion Record

1975 – Elmer F. Beth, professor of journalism, University of Kansas

1975 – Herbert A. Meyer, Jr., Independence Daily Reporter

1976 – Mamie Boyd, Phillips County Review and Jewell County Record

1977 – William Lindsay White, Emporia Gazette

1978 – Frank “Bus” Boyd, Jr., Jewell County Record

1979 – Drew McLaughlin, Sr., Miami Republican

1980 – Rolla A. Clymer, El Dorado Times

1981 – John Boyer, Scott City News-Chronicle

1982 – Jay Baugh, Montezuma, Johnson Pioneer and Ulysses News

1982 – Oscar Stauffer, Topeka Capital-Journal

1983 – Ernie Briles, Stafford Courier

1985 – John Chandler, Holton Recorder

1986 – Drew McLaughlin, Jr., Miami Republican

1987 – Leonard McCalla, Jr., Anderson Countian

1988 – Stuart Awbrey, Garden City Telegram, Hutchinson News-Herald, Burlington Hawk Eye Gazette

1988 – John D. Montgomery, Junction City Daily Union

1989 – Henry B. Jameson, Abilene Reflector- Chronicle

1989 – Dolph C. Simons, Sr., Lawrence Journal-World

1990 – McDill “Huck” Boyd, Phillips County Review

1991 – John B. Bremner, professor of journalism, University of Kansas

1992 – W. W. “Jiggs” Morford, Western Times

1993 – Byron Guise, Marysville Advocate

1994 – Clelland Cole, St. John News

1994 – Clyde M. Reed, Jr., Parsons Sun

1995 – Fred Moen, Associated Press, Kansas and Missouri

1996 – Robert McCants, Goodland Daily News

1997 – Floyd Cooley, Ness County News

1998 – Whitley Austin, Salina Journal

1999 – R. W. Hemenway, Minneapolis Messenger

2000 – Richard M. Seaton, Coffeyville Journal

2001 – Karl Gaston, Ellsworth Reporter

2001 – Emerson Lynn, Jr., Iola Register

2002 – Kenneth C. Bronson, Stauffer Communications

2002 – Kenneth “Bud” Bruce, Hillsboro Star-Journal

2003 – Bill Meyer, Hock Publishing Company

2003 – Robert B. Wellington, Ottawa Herald

2005 – H. K. George, Caney Chronicle

2005 – Webster “Web: Hawkins, Louisburg Herald and Osawatomie Graphic

2005 – Howard Kessinger, Marysville Advocate

2005 – Peter M. Macdonald, Hutchinson News, Harris Enterprises

2007 – George H. Clasen II, Garnett Review

2007 – Dolph C. Simons, Jr., Lawrence Journal-World

2008 – Don McNeal, Council Grove Republican

2008 – Vivien Sadowski, Abilene Reflector-Chronicle

2009 – Darrel Miller, Smith County Pioneer, Lebanan Times, Cawker City Ledger, and Downs News

2009 – Russell T. Townsley, Russell Daily News

2010 – Tom Eblen, University Daily Kansan, Kansas City Star, and Fort Scott Tribune

2010 – Frederick D. “Dave” Seaton, Winfield Courier

2011 – John H. Stauffer, Topeka Capital-Journal and Kansas City Kansan

2011 – Stanley H. Stauffer, Topeka Capital-Journal

2012 – Del Brinkman, University of Kansas

2012 – Lew Ferguson, Associated Press

2012 – John G. Montgomery, Junction City Daily Union

2013 – Bill Brown, Garden City Telegram, instructor, Kansas State University

2013 – Edward L. Seaton, Manhattan Mercury

2013 – Paul Stevens, Associated Press

2014 – Les Anderson, Ark Valley News and Wichita State University

2014 – John Lee, Hays Daily News and Harris Enterprises

2015 – Richard W. “Dick” Clasen, Eureka Herald and Yates Center News

2015 – Carter Zerbe, Augusta Gazette

2016 – Joe Berkely, High Plains Journal

2016 – Ralph D. Gage, Jr., Lawre

Entry: Kansas Press Association Hall of Fame

Author: Kansas Historical Society

Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.

Date Created: July 2016

Date Modified: July 2017

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.