ANA Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame History
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.
In 1998 the Committee and the Board agreed to change the rules for acceptable nominees to the following:
Eliminated was the requirement that a person be out of journalism for five years. The person need not be retired.
The requirement that they have been in journalism for 25 years was eliminated.
The requirement that they have been in journalism for 10 years in Arizona was changed to 20 years.
The Journalism Department at the University of Arizona in Tucson chaired the program for many years.
Biographical Information
The Arizona Newspapers Foundation wishes to thank the writers, family members, survivors, living recipients and others who contributed to the biographical backgrounds and research on these nominees.
Some information was compiled decades ago by former ANA staff, University of Arizona staff and students, and Arizona writers, most notably J. Morris Richards - himself a member of the Hall of Fame. Richards, publisher of The Winslow Mail, was a noted Arizona historian and veteran newspaperman who also served as president of the Arizona Newspapers Association in its early years.
Hall of Fame
2006
Brendan FitzSimons, Wick Communications
Chris Limberis, Arizona Daily Star & Tucson Weekly
Elvira Espinoza, La Voz
Luis Manuel Ortiz, La Voz
2005
Bill & Darlene Toops, Pueblo Publishing
2004
Cloves Campbell Sr., Arizona Informant
Bruce Itule, Arizona State University
Walter and Robert Wick, Wick Communications Co.
2003
Paul Barger, Holbrook Tribune-News
L. Alan Cruikshank, Fountain Hills Times
2002
Diana Creighton, Arizona News Services, Inc.
Donald W. Carson, Professor Emeritus, U of A
2001
C. Donald Hatfield, Tucson Citizen
1999
William Shover , Arizona Republic & Phoenix Gazette
Hugh Harelson , Arizona Highways, U of A
1998
Donovan M. Kramer, Sr., Casa Grande Newspapers
Donald N. Soldwedel, Western Newspapers Inc.
Bernard J. "Jack" Smyth, Independent Newspapers
1997
James "Jim" Garner, The Daily Courier, Prescott
C.R. "Dick" Waters, Mohave Valley Daily News
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
1981
Eugene C. Pulliam, Arizona Republic and Phoenix Gazette
Ernest B. Douglas, Arizona Farmer-Ranchman, Phoenix
1980
Anna B. Anderson, Arizona News, Phoenix
1979
William R. Mathews, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
Mulfod Winsor, Editor, historian
1978
Columbus Giragi, Coconino Sun, Flagstaff
1977
Charles F. Willis, Pay Dirt, Phoenix
1976
Harold H. Wrenn, Pinal County Publications
1973
Clayton A. Smith, Tombstone Epitaph
1972
Douglas D. Martin, U of A Journalism Department
1971
William Hattich, Tombstone Epitaph
V.P. Richards, Holbrook Tribune-News
1970
Curt Miller, Tempe Daily News
John Wasson, Tucson Citizen
1969
W.P. Stuart, Prescott Evening Courier
1967
Charles H. Akers, Arizona Gazette, Phoenix
1966
George H. Smalley, Tucson Daily Citizen
1965
Angela Hutchinson Hammer, Casa Grande Valley Dispatch
1964
Stanley C. Bagg, Tombstone Prospector
1963
John H. Marion, Arizona Miner
1962
Robert Christian Smith, Snowflake Herald
1961
John W. Dorrington, Arizona Sentinel, Yuma
1960
Thomas F. Weedin, Florence Blade-Tribune
1959
Judge Aaron H. Hackney, Arizona Silver Belt, Globe
1958
Alfred F. Banta, Nine Arizona Newspapers
1957
Edward C. Cross, Weekly Arizonian, Tubac
1956
Carmel Giragi, Holbrook Tribune-News and Winslow Mail
1955
Fred S. Breen, Coconino Sun, Flagstaff
1954
Allan B. Jaynes, Tucson Daily Citizen
1953
Anson H. Smith, Mohave County Miner
1952
George H. Kelly, Douglas International and Arizona Historical Review
1951
John William "Uncle Billy" Spear, The Arizona Republic
1950
John P. Clum, Tombstone Epitaph
1949
William Wrightson, Tubac Arizonian