Stauffer brothers named to Hall of Fame
For the first time in Kansas Press Association history, two brothers were inducted into the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame on the same night.
Stanley H. Stauffer and John H. Stauffer became the latest members of the Hall of Fame from Kansas at the 119th annual KPA convention at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City Friday.
They were long-time leaders of the Stauffer Communications company that at one time had 21 daily newspapers under its umbrella and a number of television and radio stations as well.
Stan died in 2006. His brother, John, now 82, still sits on the Topeka Capital-Journal editorial board. Their father, Oscar S. Stauffer, was named to the Hall of Fame in 1982.
In addition, numerous other awards were presented:
• Bill Brown, former faculty member and director of student publications at Kansas State University and also the former editor of the Hutchinson News and Garden City Telegram, was recognized as the Clyde M. Reed, Jr. Master Editor. Brown now lives in Kansas City, Mo
• Caroline Trowbridge of the Lawrence Journal-World, was named the Gaston Outstanding Mentor. She has held several positions with the company, including editor and publisher of The Mirror in Tonganoxie. She is now community director for the Journal-World.
• Roy Wenzl of the Wichita Eagle was recognized as winner of the Victor Murdock Award for his investigative series, "Promise Not to Tell," which chronicled a family sexual assault case in Wichita. Wenzl's sensitive treatment of the subject of incest has led to several accolades. It told the story of twin sisters Kathie and Kellie Henderso, who were abused for years by their brothers and father.
• The Kansas City Star was presented the Boyd Community Service Award for its coverage of hunger on both the Kansas and Missouri sides of the state line. The Star's project also included a fund-raising effort to fight hunger that started with a goal of $25,000, but ended up raising $235,000. Laura Bauer of the Star was the lead writer on the stories.
• A special citation was presented to Spec. Roland Hale and Sgt. First Class Jeff Troth of Ft. Riley for their work to provide news from the front lines in Iraq to newspapers in Pottawatomie County.
On Saturday, the Awards of Excellence were presented in the news and advertising categories to recognize outstanding work by staff members of Kansas newspapers.
The six sweepstakes award winners in the circulation categories were:
• Ottawa Herald, Daily Division 1.
• Hays Daily News, Daily Division 2.
• Hutchinson News, Daily Division 3.
• The Mirror, Tonganoxie, Non-Daily Division 1.
• Atchison Globe, Non-Daily Division 2.
• Osage County Herald-Chronicle, Non-Daily Division 3.
KPA also honored two retiring board members: Tom Throne, former editor and general manager of the Junction City Daily Union; and Chris Faimon, co-publisher of the Coffey County Republican and Osage County Herald-Chronicle.
New board members elected at Saturday's annual business meeting were Tamara Hand, advertising director for the Lawrence Journal-World, Northeast District director, and Steve Wade, editor and publisher of the Pittsburg Morning Sun, Southeast District director.
