Oklahoma Journalism Hall Of Fame
Mike McCarville of The McCarville Report will be one of nine outstanding journalists inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame April 18 at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
“Mike McCarville parlayed print and broadcast reporting and a love for politics into a national reputation with his innovative The McCarville Report,” said Dr. Terry M. Clark, director of the Hall of Fame. “The sophisticated influence of his reporting is a beacon for Oklahoma journalism.”
Other honorees are James Coburn, veteran reporter of The Edmond Sun; Joe Hancock, publisher of the Hobart Democrat-Chief; Joe Hight, editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette; John Klein, sports columnist for the Tulsa World; Jerry Laizure, photographer for The Norman Transcript who died last year; Mary Melon, president and publisher of The Journal Record; Tom Muchmore, third generation publisher of The Ponca City News; and Oliver C. Murray, pioneer photojournalist and producer at WKY-TV (now KFOR-TV) and one of the founders of the Association of Black Journalists.
The Hall of Fame’s luncheon program will begin at 11:45 a.m. on the third floor of the Nigh University Center, across the hall from the Hall of Fame Exhibition hall, Clark said, Master of ceremonies will be Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Dr. Don Betz, president of UCO, will welcome the crowd. More than 220 journalists, friends and families are expected for the ceremony.
“The annual ceremony has become an informal homecoming for honorees and families. The Hall is a virtual Who’s Who of Oklahoma journalism, and the crowd will be filled with the giants of the profession,” Clark said.
Cost of the luncheon is $15. Reservations may be called to 405-974-5122 or by emailing Clark at tclark@uco.edu or Sherry Sump at ssump@uco.edu. Deadline for reservations is April 12th.
Honorees are selected by a committee composed of members of the working press and the Hall of Fame. The committee sifts through all nominations, both new ones and those held over from previous years, before selecting the nominees.
Framed citations are on display in the Hall of Fame in the Nigh Center.
The Hall of Fame was founded in 1971 by former Journalism Department Chairman Dr. Ray Tassin. This year’s inductees bring to 390 the nunber inducted thus far. The Hall is supported with funding from UCO and The Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation and the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation.
