BEACHY MUSSELMAN AWARD Deadline for Nominations Is MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021
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The Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation is accepting nominations for the annual BEACHY MUSSELMAN AWARD Deadline for nominations is MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021 Norman Beachy Musselman Winner receives a Since 1969, the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation has presented the Beachy Musselman Award from the interest on funds given to the foundation in his memory. Plaque & Recognition Musselman was born July 17, 1897, in Falls City, Neb., graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1918 and did graduate work at as an outstanding journalist at the OPA Convention Kansas University in 1920 and 1921. From 1922-23, he was city editor tentatively scheduled for June 2021. of the Arkansas City Daily News in Kansas and, from 1924 to 1942, served as advertising manager of the Arkansas City Traveler. He was editor and general manager of the Shawnee News-Star from 1945 until his death on Aug. 6, 1963. A few months after his death, his widow, the late Ruth Musselman, Recognize a deserving journalist asked the OPA to administer a Norman Beachy Musselman Memorial The annual Beachy Musselman Award, presented by the Oklahoma Fund. Although OPA members had talked about establishing a trust fund Newspaper Foundation, recognizes a journalist for his or her contribution to for several years, they had never done so. The memorial contribution the field of journalism or its related field. proved to be the catalyst needed to establish the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation (ONF). The award, which was established to recognize and encourage The first contribution to the foundation was the Norman Beachy quality journalism in practice, education and research, is named after the Musselman Memorial Fund. ONF was established to serve as a trust for late Norman Beachy Musselman, former editor and general manager of the donations of money, securities or other property. Shawnee News-Star, who also served as president of the Oklahoma Press Musselman was a consistent winner of editorial writing awards and his columns, “Beachnuts and Newsbeams,” also won many awards. He Association. was a founding member of the American Legion, joining other veterans Any professional journalist is eligible for nomination. Extra consideration to form the new organization after serving as a signal corps aviator in is given on the basis of service to the community, initiative in reporting, World War I. photographing or interpreting the news. Nominations for editors, reporters Musselman served as president of the Oklahoma Press Association in 1961, which coincided with building and moving into the OPA office and other staff members are encouraged. building at 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd. in Oklahoma City. After Musselman’s death in 1963, Ben Blackstock wrote about the Make your nomination by Feb. 8, 2021 Shawnee newsman: “Beachy made a high mark upon the tide of a man’s Nominations, which may be made by anyone, must include biographical worth by his infectious friendliness, his personality, his deeds and the fire of enthusiasm he could kindle in his associates. information showing work in the newspaper industry or related field and “He was sought for his opinions and his straight-forward way of reasons you believe the person is deserving of the award. Additional informa- expressing them. As an editor, he met fully the deep dual responsibility tion may be requested by the ONF Board of Trustees. of straight, unadulterated news coverage. He delegated his opinions or If you know a journalist who is deserving of this award, submit your definite stand on a matter to his editorial columns. “Beachy quickly grasped a problem. He respected and exhausted nomination and accompanying information via email to mthomas@okpress. all viewpoints. He then molded a dynamic, progressive decision accept- com or upload at http://betternewspapercontest.com/OPA. When submitting able to the majority. online, the Division is “Special Awards” and the category is “ONF Beachy “His works went beyond his staff, his city and his association with Musselman Award.” This information is also available on the OPA website at other publishers. He was deeply devoted to his family. All of us who www.okpress.com/beachy-musselman-award. knew Beachy well, will miss him.” PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS OF THE BEACHY MUSSELMAN AWARD 2019 RUSTY FERGUSON, PUBLISHER, years ago to recognize and encourage the accom- 1998 David Fallis, Ass't. City Ed., THE CLEVELAND AMERICAN plishments of women. That program continues today Tulsa World Ferguson became publisher of The Cleveland Ameri- as The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year event. 1997 J. Leland Gourley, Publisher, can in 1985 and served as president of the OPA in OKC Friday 2011-12. Ferguson not only reports news, he is 2010 NOLAN CLAY, REPORTER, 1996 Terry Hoggatt, Mg. Ed., also an advocate for his community and takes seri- THE OKLAHOMAN Cushing Daily Citizen Clay has worked almost 26 years as a reporter for ously the role of community leadership. He served as 1995 Alex Adwan, Senior Editor, The Oklahoman, doing investigative exposés and president of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce Tulsa World on three occasions. He recently began teaching and covering courthouses. In addition to covering the Tim 1994 Dave Story, Publisher advising the student newspaper at Cleveland High McVeigh and Terry Nichols' trials in Denver, Colo., in Claremore Progress School. 1997, Clay also exposed the internal dispute at Okla- homa's Feed the Children in 2009. 1993 John & Faith Wylie, Publishers, 2018 JEFF MULLIN, COLUMNIST, Oologah Lake Leader ENID NEWS & EAGLE 2009 JOE WORLEY, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, 1992 Bob Lobsinger, Publisher, Mullin retired from the Enid News & Eagle after 41 TULSA WORLD Newkirk Herald-Journal years working as a sports writer, then news editor, Worley's high journalistic standards are well known 1991 Ed Montgomery, Editorial Editor, associate editor and, finally, senior writer and resi- statewide and serve as an example to his peers. Norman Transcript dent columnist. Never afraid to face challenges, he Worley has been a leader in adapting to the changing 1990 Mary Goddard, Assistant City Editor, was interviewed by The New York Times in Decem- face in journalism. He has befriended all the state’s The Daily Oklahoman newspapers, big and small, and his down-to-earth ber 2016 after a man threatened to beat him for the 1989 Carter Bradley, approach to problems has proved invaluable. News & Eagle’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton. OPA Capitol News Bureau 2008 STEVE BOOHER, PUBLISHER, 1988 O.B. Campbell, Publisher, 2017 JAMES BEATY, MANAGING EDITOR, Vinita Journal MCALESTER NEWS-CAPITAL CHEROKEE MESSENGER 1987 Ralph Sewell, In 2016, Beaty helped report and write a series & REPUBLICAN OPA Capitol News Bureau exposing nepotism amd other issues that led to the For more than a quarter of a century, Booher pro- dismissal of the school superintendent and resulted vided Alfalfa County with news and kept public of- 1986 Sharon Wright, Political Reporter, in changes in the way business is conducted at the ficials on their toes. Withstanding the criticism that Stillwater NewsPress city of McAlester and McAlester Public Schools. The often comes along with being the “watchdog” in a 1985 Beth Macklin, Religion Editor, series was recognized statewide and nationally. He small community, Booher fought for taxpayers’ rights Tulsa World has been at the McAlester News-Capital since 1986. by insisting that records remain open and that public 1984 Patricia Miller, High School, meetings are run according to the state’s Open Meet- Journalism Teacher, 2016 ANDY RIEGER, RETIRED EDITOR, ing Act. Putnam City West (OKC) THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT 1983 Ed Burchfiel, Publisher, 2007 RAY LOKEY, PUBLISHER, Rieger worked at The Oklahoman before starting a Cordell Beacon weekly newspaper in 1985. He served as a journal- JOHNSTON CO. CAPITAL-DEMOCRAT Lokey became publisher of the Johnston County 1982 Joseph E. Howell, Reporter, ism professor and as faculty adviser to The Okla- The Tulsa Tribune homa Daily at OU. In 1995, The Norman Transcript Capital-Democrat in 1990. Through investigative news reporting and hard-hitting editorials, Lokey 1981 Dr. Harry Heath, hired Rieger as managing editor. He retired from The Director of School of Journalism, Transcript in 2015 and now teaches part-time at OU. used the Capital-Democrat to make the public aware of the threats to the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer and Oklahoma State University 2015 JULIE DELCOUR, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, helped mobilize a grassroots organization. 1980 Dr. Ernest F. Larkin, TULSA WORLD Professor of Journalism, A longtime editor of the Tulsa World, DelCour cham- 2006 LOUISE ABERCROMBIE, University of Oklahoma pioned penal reform to maintain an adequate public BUSINESS ED., PONCA CITY NEWS 1979 Callaway Buckley, Exec. Ed., safety net for the poor and maintain an adequate Louise Abercrombie joined The Ponca City News in Duncan Banner judicial system. She is an expert in criminal justice 1968 as a beginning reporter. Since that time she has 1978 John Young, Executive Editor, issues, including dealth penalty issues. gone on to cover statewide and national politicians. Sapulpa Herald At the newspaper, she creates and edits a weekly 1977 Jane Glenn, Reporter, business page and covers events of all types. She 2014 GLORIA TROTTER, PUBLISHER, Norman Transcript THE COUNTYWIDE & SUN has also created and authored several innovative historical series and writes a weekly humor column. 1976 Robby Trammell, Editor, Trotter has served on almost every board in Tecum- Seminole Producer seh and is a past president of nearly all of them. Outside of her writing, Abercrombie has been in- 1975 Pete Crow, Publisher, Gloria and her husband, Wayne, purchased the volved in a number of activities and received numer- Grove Sun Tecumseh newspaper in 1983. Gloria is a past presi- ous awards. 1974 Jack A. Reese, Exec. Ed., dent of the OPA and the recipient of many prestigious 2005 Barbara A. Walter, Publisher, Norman Transcript awards including the National Newspaper Associa- Hennessey Clipper 1973 Jack Stone, Mg.