hall of fame
The Hall of Fame was created in 1949 at the University of Arizona to provide appropriate recognition of Arizona newspaper men and women who have made outstanding contributions to Arizona journalism and their communities.
When it was established, the honor always was bestowed posthumously. In 1995, the directors of the Arizona Newspapers Association adopted rules to honor the men and women journalists of Arizona who have been at least 25 years in journalism with at least 10 years in Arizona. The Hall of Fame Committee may make recommendations for exceptions as it did in 1996.
To be honored, nominees must have made a significant contribution to journalism, their communities, and Arizona. Nominees are not restricted to any one avenue of newspaper management and may be an owner, publisher, editor, or manager of a department.
Since its inception, one or more worthy newspaper men and women were nominated each year by the ANA Hall of Fame committee and approved by the Board of Directors. (The Hall of Fame came under the purview of the Arizona Newspapers Foundation after it was formed in 1997.)
There were no awards from 1982 to 1995.
The Journalism Department at the University of Arizona in Tucson chaired the program for many years.
Distinguished Recipients
1949
William Wrightson, Tubac Arizonian
1950
John P. Clum, Tombstone Epitaph
1951
John William “Uncle Billy” Spear, The Arizona Republic
1952
George H. Kelly, Douglas International and Arizona Historical Review
1953
Anson H. Smith, Mohave County Miner
1954
Allan B. Jaynes, Tucson Daily Citizen
1955
Fred S. Breen, Coconino Sun, Flagstaff
1956
Carmel Giragi, Holbrook Tribune-News and Winslow Mail
1957
Edward C. Cross, Weekly Arizonian, Tubac
1958
Alfred F. Banta, Nine Arizona Newspapers
1959
Judge Aaron H. Hackney, Arizona Silver Belt, Globe
1970
Curt Miller, Tempe Daily News
John Wasson, Tucson Citizen
1971
William Hattich, Tombstone Epitaph
V.P. Richards, Holbrook Tribune-News
1972
Douglas D. Martin, U of A Journalism Department
1973
Clayton A. Smith, Tombstone Epitaph
1976
Harold H. Wrenn, Pinal County Publications
1977
Charles F. Willis, Pay Dirt, Phoenix
1978
Columbus Giragi, Coconino Sun, Flagstaff
1979
William R. Mathews, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
Mulfod Winsor, Editor, historian
1980
Anna B. Anderson, Arizona News, Phoenix
1981
Eugene C. Pulliam, The Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette
Ernest B. Douglas, Arizona Farmer-Ranchman, Phoenix
1996
Donald F. Bolles, The Arizona Republic
Pierson W. Dooner, The Weekly Arizonan
Dwight B. Heard, The Arizona Republican
Frank E. Johnson, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
Jonathan Marshall, The Scottsdale Daily Progress
Harry Montgomery, Arizona Republic / Phoenix Gazette
J. Morris Richards, The Winslow Mail
Hanson Ray Sisk, Nogales Herald
Charles Thornton, Arizona Republic
Milton Wick, Wick Newspapers
1997
James “Jim” Garner, The Daily Courier, Prescott
C.R. “Dick” Waters, Mohave Valley Daily News
1998
Donovan M. Kramer, Sr., Casa Grande Newspapers
Donald N. Soldwedel, Western Newspapers Inc.
Bernard J. “Jack” Smyth, Independent Newspapers
1999
William Shover , Arizona Republic & Phoenix Gazette
Hugh Harelson , Arizona Highways, U of A
2001
C. Donald Hatfield, Tucson Citizen
2002
Diana Creighton, Arizona News Services, Inc.
Donald W. Carson, Professor Emeritus, U of A
2003
Paul Barger, Holbrook Tribune-News
L. Alan Cruikshank, Fountain Hills Times
2004
Cloves Campbell Sr., Arizona Informant
Bruce Itule, Arizona State University
Walter and Robert Wick, Wick Communications Co.
2005
Bill & Darlene Toops, Pueblo Publishing
2006
Brendan FitzSimons, Wick Communications
Chris Limberis, Arizona Daily Star & Tucson Weekly
Elvira Espinoza, La Voz
Luis Manuel Ortiz, La Voz
2008
Kevin Cloe, Wickenburg Sun
Josephine Brawley Hughes, Arizona Daily Star