Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867

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 2024

Doug Kneibert, Sedalia Democrat

Mike O'Brien, Springfield News-Leader

Dianne Elizabeth Osis, Springfield Business Journal

Michael Stair, Joplin Globe

Inducted 2023

Terez Paylor, The Kansas City Star

Eugene Webster Sharp, University of Missouri School of Journalism

Jane See White, The Associated Press

Dr. Donald Suggs, The St. Louis American

Dan Wehmer, Webster County Citizen, Seymour

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

, 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