Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame
Missouri Press Association Newspaper Hall of Fame inductees are selected annually from nominations received by the MPA Newspaper Hall of Fame Committee. Click here to download a copy of the nomination form.
To be considered for induction into the Newspaper Hall of Fame, a person must have made exemplary contributions to the newspaper industry over a number of years, lived honorably, influenced unselfishly, thought soundly and displayed community involvement. MPA founded the Hall of Fame in 1991 and past inductees include Joseph Pulitzer, Walter Williams, Samuel Clemens, and many more listed below.
Those inducted into the Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame receive Pinnacle Awards. Plaques noting their accomplishments are hung in the William A. Bray Conference Room at the Missouri Press building in Columbia. Plaques of the honorees are also on display in Lee Hills Hall at the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia.
MPA Newspaper Hall of Fame Members
Inducted 2022
Jon K. Rust, Rust Communications
Dana Raker, Holden Image
Joe Gravely, Bolivar Free Press
Inducted 2021
Alan Turley, The Van Buren Current Local
Jack “Miles” Ventimiglia, The Richmond News, The Excelsior Springs Standard
Steve Tinnen, The Plattsburg Clinton County Leader
Inducted 2020
Laura Rollins Hockaday, The Kansas City Star
Kia Breaux, The Associated Press
Dane Vernon, The Advertiser, Eldon
Inducted 2019
Carol Stark, Joplin Globe
Phil and Kathy Conger, Bethany Republican-Clipper
Thomas Benton White, Benton County Enterprise
Francis Stufflebam, Bolivar Herald
Inducted 2018
Wendell Redden, Joplin Globe
Kent Ford, Missouri Press Association
Joe May, Mexico Ledger
Jim Robertson, Columbia Daily Tribune
Inducted 2017
Arthur Aull, Lamar Democrat
Kenneth G. Meuser, The Monett Times
Bob Mitchell, Cassville Democrat
Vicki Russell, Columbia Daily Tribune
Inducted 2016
Ed Heins, Columbia Missourian
Tad Bartimus, The Associated Press
James Hamilton, Buffalo Reflex
Doug Crews, Missouri Press Association
Inducted 2015
George A. Killenberg, St. Louis Globe-Democrat
William H. (Bill) Plummer, Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune
Col. Robert Morgan White, The Mexico Ledger
Darryl Wilkinson, Gallatin North Missourian
Inducted 2014
David R. Bradley Jr., St. Joseph News-Press & Gazette
Judy Dixon, Leader Publications, Jefferson County
Don and Kathy Ginnings, The Index, Hermitage
Gary and Helen Sosniecki, The Lebanon Daily Record
Inducted 2013
Henry F. Childers, Troy Free Press
Robert E. “Bob” Cobb, King City Tri-County News
Jane Duncan Flink, Boone County Journal, Ashland
Wendell Lenhart, Trenton Republican-Times
Edwin Quigley White, The Associated Press
Inducted 2012
Dave Berry, Bolivar Herald- Free Press
Bill French, The Current Wave
Tom Miller, The Washington Missourian
Dean Mills, Dean of the University of Missouri School of Journalism
Stephen and Linda Oldfield, The Adrian Journal and The Drexel Star
Inducted 2010
Harold T. Ellinghouse, Wayne County Journal-Banner & Reynolds County Courier
Robert I. “Si” Colburn, Monroe County Appeal
Mary Jo Hoffman, Kansas City Star
Donald W. Reynolds, Donrey Media Group
Robert W. Wilson, Jr. Milan Standard
Inducted 2011
Norman Colman, Colman’s Rural World, St. Louis
Douglas Davis, The Lamar Democrat
Ron Jennings, The Sedalia Democrat
Nathaniel and Melba Sweets, The St. Louis American
Donald Warden, Owensville Gasconade County Republican
Inducted 2009
Lucile Bluford, Kansas City Call
David Bradley, Sr., St. Joseph News-Press
Brian Brooks, MU School of Journalism
Frank L. Martin III, West Plains Daily Quill
W. Ray Vickery, Salem News
Inducted 2008
Robert Blosser, Jefferson City News Tribune
Chuck Haney, Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune
Wally Lage, Rust Communications – Cape Girardeau
Ed Lee, Savannah Reporter & Andrew County Democrat
Dave Steinbeck, Canton Press-News Journal
Inducted 2007
Wanda Brown, Cass County Democrat-Missourian
Merrill Chilcote, St. Joseph News-Press
Charles Gusewelle, Kansas City Star
William F. Switzler, newspaper pioneer
Inducted 2006
Weldon H. “Pete” Steiner, The Vandalia Leader
Paul H. Stevens, The Associated Press
Thomas Charles Warden, Gasconade County Republican
Craig E. Watkins, Cameron Citizen Observer
Inducted 2005
Denny Davis, Fayette Advertiser and Democrat-Leader
Charles Ellinghouse, Wayne County Newspapers
Percy Pascoe, Cuba Free Press
R.B. “Bob” Smith, Branson and Lebanon Newspapers
Ed Watson, Columbia Daily Tribune
Inducted 2004
Allen Black, Malden Press-Merit
Kenneth Cope, Neosho Daily News
Dale Freeman, Springfield News-Leader
Kirk Powell, Pleasant Hill Times
Jack Watters, Marshfield Mail
Inducted 2003
Robert and Lila Gunn, Adrian Journal
Elston J. ‘E. J.’ Melton, Boonville Daily News
William L. Miller, Sr., Washington Missourian
Gary W. Rust, Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian
James C. Sterling, Bolivar Herald-Free Press
Inducted 2002
Bartholomew J. and Bertha I. Bless, Weston Chronicle
Ralph E. Clayton, Caruthersville Democrat-Argus
Eugene Field, St. Louis, St. Joseph, Kansas City newspapers
David Lipman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Inducted 2001
Eugene A. Mace, Jefferson and Ste. Genevieve County Newspapers
Harold G. ‘Hal’ Townsend, Jr., Kansas City Press Dispatch
William E. ‘Bill’ James, Harrisonville Cass County Democrat-Missourian
Dr. William Howard Taft, University of Missouri School of Journalism
Henry J. ‘Hank’ Waters III, Columbia Daily Tribune
Inducted 2000
J. Porter and Alma M. (Sally) Fisher, New London Ralls County Record
A. B. Macdonald, The Kansas City Star
George and Fred Naeter, Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian
Charles G. Ross, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jacob Sosey, Palmyra Spectator
Mildred Wallhausen, Charleston Enterprise-Courier
Dalton C. Wright, Lebanon Daily Record
Inducted 1999
Louis Nelson Bowman, King City Tri-County News
Witten “Wit” Ledbetter, Farmington Press
Lucius B. Morse, St. Louis Daily Record
Edward W. Sowers, Rolla Daily News
Clarence E. “Watty” Watkins, Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune
Ben F. Weir, Jr., Independence Examiner
Inducted 1998
Oliver B. Ferguson, Fredericktown Democrat-News
Frank L. Martin, Jr., West Plains Daily Quill
Barney Miller, Dexter Daily Statesman
Wesley L. Robertson, Gallatin Democrat
Robert M. White II, Mexico Ledger
Inducted 1997
O. K. Bovard, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Tilghman R. Cloud, Pleasant Hill Times
Betty Simpson Spaar, The Odessa Odessan
Jac W. Zimmerman, Bolivar Herald-Free Press
Inducted 1996
W. Rogers Hewitt, Shelby County Herald
Roy A. Roberts, The Kansas City Star
W. Ferrell Shuck, Lee’s Summit Journal
Colonel William N. Southern, Jr., Independence Examiner
Inducted 1995
J. W. Barrett, Canton Weekly Press
H. J. “Jack” Blanton, Monroe County Appeal
J. M. “Jack” Fidler, Salisbury Press-Spectator
Joseph T. “Joe” McGuff, The Kansas City Star
Inducted 1994
Stanley R. Fike, Fairmount Inter-City News
Joseph Pulitzer (1885-1955), St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Joseph Pulitzer, Jr. (1913-1993), St. Louis Post-Dispatch
John H. Wolpers, Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic
Wallace G. Vernon, Eldon Advertiser
Inducted 1993
Cliff and Vi Edom, University of Missouri School of Journalism
and Missouri Press Association, Columbia
Victor A. Gierke, Louisiana Press-Journal
James H. Hale, The Kansas City Star
W. C. “Cres” Hewitt, Shelby County Herald
Joseph R. Snyder, Gallatin North Missourian
Ben F. Weir, Sr., Nevada Daily Mail
Inducted 1992
James W. Brown, Jr., Cass County Democrat-Missourian
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), Hannibal Journal
O. W. Chilton, Caruthersville Democrat-Argus
Frank Lee Martin, University of Missouri School of Journalism
W. Lester “Les” Simpson, Holden Progress
Edwin W. Stephens, Columbia Herald
Avis Green Tucker, Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal
Robert L. and Margaret Vickery, Salem News
Inducted 1991
Charles Lee Blanton, Jr., Sikeston Daily Standard
William A. Bray, Missouri Press Association, Columbia
Joseph Charless, The Missouri Gazette
Earl F. English, University of Missouri School of Journalism
James C. Kirkpatrick, Windsor Review and Lamar Democrat
James L. Miller, Sr., Washington Missourian
William Rockhill Nelson, The Kansas City Star
Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911), St. Louis Post-Dispatch
L. Mitchell White, Mexico Evening Ledger
Walter Williams, University of Missouri School of Journalism