Gold & Silver Circle - Heartland Emmys

Nominations

The Silver Circle is an elite group of professionals recognized by the Heartland Chapter for making a significant contribution to television over a time period of at least 25 years (and 50 years for the Gold Circle). Silver/Gold Circle recognition may be given posthumously. New Silver/Gold Circle members will be inducted at the Emmy^® Awards ceremony in the summer.

Those eligible will have made a significant contribution to television; the contribution can be in service in the industry, to NATAS, to the community, or to people training for a career in the field. Nominees have integrity and honor. They may elevate the craft of journalism, chart new territory, or raise the standards of the industry. Nominations are accepted from the performing, creative, technical or administrative roles within the industry or in peripheral areas directly related to television such as TV commercial production, TV journalism or TV education. Neither nominators nor nominees need to be members of NATAS.

Nominations come from you

Submit a nomination by February 7, 2025.

The nomination letter must detail the nominee’s contributions to the television industry and community involvement. The nominee will not be contacted, as many nominees may not know they have been nominated. There is no entry fee.

For more information, contact the NATAS office at 303-722-0916.

Nominations are reviewed by the Silver Circle Committee, which is appointed by the Board of Governors. The committee evaluates the nominee’s contributions and then votes for inductees by secret ballot. The committee must vote unanimously to induct a nominee into the Silver/Gold Circle. No more than ten individuals are inducted into the Silver/Gold Circle in any given year. The selection process is kept confidential.

Gold Circle

The Gold Circle is not an award, but a society of honor. It was established to recognize individuals who have devoted fifty years or more to the television industry and have made a meaningful and significant contribution to broadcasting and/or new media.

These honorees represent the spirit of innovation, passion, creativity, and commitment that are the hallmarks of excellence in the television arts and sciences. We salute them for their efforts, successes, and for the enduring mark they have made on our broadcasting communities.

The broadcast pioneers who become part of this distinguished group have had significant careers in many different aspects of the industry — engineering, management, on-air, technical, production, administration, and talent.

Gold Circle Honorees

Silver Circle

The Silver Circle is not an award, but a society of honor. It was established to recognize individuals who have devoted twenty-five years or more to the television industry and have made a meaningful and significant contribution to broadcasting and/or new media.

These honorees represent the spirit of innovation, passion, creativity, and commitment that are the hallmarks of excellence in the television arts and sciences. We salute them for their efforts, successes, and for the enduring mark they have made on our broadcasting communities.

The broadcast pioneers who become part of this distinguished group have had significant careers in many different aspects of the industry — engineering, management, on-air, technical, production, administration, and talent.

Silver Circle Honorees

Gold Circle Honoree

Jon Janes

The television news career of Jon Janes began in the summer of 1969, when he won a major WMT (now KGAN) scholarship to cover news at the University of Iowa, where he worked numerous hours covering the Vietnam War protests at the University through May of 1970.

After graduation, and in the space of 14 months, Jon earned a Master of Science in Mass Communications from San Diego State University. While working on his degree, Jon was hired as a full time News Photographer at CBS affiliate KFMB in San Diego. In 1971, Jon began three years in the Air Force, and after his Air Force service, Jon returned to KFMB for a year, then moved to KWWL in Waterloo, Iowa, as a Statehouse Bureau reporter and eventually Bureau Chief covering the Iowa Statehouse. Other roles include News Director, KAAL TV in Austin, Minnesota (1978), news management positions in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; St. Louis; Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa; and Minneapolis, Corporate Vice President for news with the News Press-Gazette company in St. Joseph, Missouri, News Director, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Jon made his final career move to WIBW-TV in Topeka, in August 1999 and was the longest-tenured News Director in the history of WIBW-TV, with 23 years at the helm of the newsroom when he retired July 1, 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the WIBW team has had one-fourth of the staff out on various occasions, but Jon never missed a day at the helm. He led the department through eight staff changes, a major election, and the Chiefs second Super Bowl Season, while also directing coverage of numerous major stories in the 17-county designated viewing area. During his 51-year career in broadcasting, Jon has led more than 700 news people is his 43 years as a News Manager. He has helped, worked for, or assisted 33 General Managers at 19 different news stations, as well as two United States Air Force agencies. Most of Jon’s career has involved maximizing the abilities of young reporters by allowing them to develop their skills in their first real-world experience.

His WIBW community work includes Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Topeka; Helping Hands Humane Society; the Topeka Zoo; the Salvation Army; the annual Red Cross Battle of the Badges Blood Drive; Salute Our Heroes, featuring law enforcement, first responders, and civilians who have done heroic actions; and Wednesday’s Child, highlighting children in need of adoption. Welcome to the Heartland Gold Circle, Jon Janes.

Gold Circle Honoree

Sam Jones

While the broadcast career of Sam Jones began in 1970 in Ft. Smith, Ark., he is a legend today in Tulsa, Okla. He started working in radio and television in Arkansas. He was a reporter and weekend anchor for KTHV-TV, then promoted as the prime anchor and assistant news director. He eventually began to file stories for both KTHV-TV and CBS News and was then recruited to work at KJRH-TV Tulsa in 1981 as an evening anchor.

He covered city and county government with a goal to tell stories about the treasures of Oklahoma and their people. Sam quickly became known as a man who not only anchored the news but as a skilled reporter who knew how to ask tough questions and find answers. He continues to pass his knowledge on to those wanting to learn about true journalism.

His documentary, "Spirit of the Fire," chronicled the Western Oklahoma life of the Native American Keetoowah society, with interviews and conversations translated from Cherokee so viewers could understand the processes and words. The Smithsonian museum houses this and another of his documentaries, "Little Giant from Little Dixie."

In 1990, he became anchor/producer of "Oklahoma Forum" on KTFO-TV and "Open Line" in 1992. He also wrote, produced, and anchored hour and half-hour specials. In 1994, he moved his live call-in show to KOTV-TV. Currently, he hosts and produces "Green Country Perspectives" at RSU-TV, where he received two Emmys^® for his programs.

Gold Circle Honoree

Ron Hull

The career of Ron Hull spans decades, and his influence crosses international boundaries. Hull, 91, shaped Nebraska Public Media into a statewide network with four television and two radio channels. When he joined the fledgling organization 68 years ago to produce a creative writing series, it was only the eighth educational television station in the country: KUON-TV at the University of Nebraska.

In 1966, President Johnson tapped him to act as a television programming advisor to the government of South Vietnam, and that was only the beginning of Hull's international broadcasting work. He returned to Vietnam years later to film a PBS documentary, "Beyond the Fury." When he returned from Vietnam in 1968, he served as the program manager of the Nebraska ETV Network.

From 1982-88, he directed the Program Fund at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, funding "Nova," "The American Experience," "The Metropolitan Opera," and "Reading Rainbow." Returning to NET in 1989, he became the station manager, then transitioned to working for both PBS and NETV while earning a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. In 1999, he received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach international broadcasting at Cheng Chi University in Taipei, Taiwan, then returned to NET and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln several years later.

He is on the advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center, the boards of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, and the Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission. He is a special advisor to Nebraska Public Media and a Professor Emeritus at the University of Nebraska.

Gold & Silver Circle Honoree

Bill Perry

Our profession is peppered coast to coast with quality people tutored and touched by Bill Perry, but his heart is in Heartland Television. Some even say they owe their careers, if not their very lives, to Bill Perry.

If the numbers of awards, including Emmys^®, are the measure of success, then Bill is more than successful. If passion in producing a quality product is the measure to use, then Bill’s success is immeasurable. If loyalty, dedication, care, and consistency are ingredients in true success, then Bill is the recipe.

Bill Perry grew up in the Heartland, was schooled in Oklahoma, and began his television career even before he had a diploma in hand. That professional path began at KTEN in Ada, Oklahoma. He is rightfully proud of the fact he operated the station's first color camera for the first locally originated color program there in 1969. Bill launched quickly to the "big time" at KOCO-TV, where he delighted the Heartland with a feature called "NEWSREEL" for newscasts (and the tapes exist to prove he had hair). In the mid-1970s, Perry worked on both sides of the camera at KDFW in Dallas.

Bill Perry moved from the Heartland in 1977 but represented his home region admirably in many ways. He supervised field coverage for the launch of the first NASA Space Shuttle for WBBH (NBC) in Ft. Myers, Florida. During his service at WATE in Tennessee, he was one of nine news directors to form the ABC News Directors Advisory Board to foster affiliate news services for the network... And the list goes on.

Back home to Oklahoma television in 1986, he taught broadcast news at East Central University in addition to his commercial work as an Account Executive at KTEN (ABC/NBC). He moved his family home to Oklahoma City in 1987 and continued his television career with KAUT (Fox).

In January of 1990, Bill joined OETA – The Oklahoma Network (PBS) as Field Bureau Manager and has since contributed greatly to News and Public Affairs. Promotions and programming opportunities were given to him, not only because they were "part of the job", but because everyone knew Bill Perry would get the job done and done well.

As Executive Producer of the highly acclaimed Documentary Department at OETA, Bill initiated the production of two monthly series. "Stateline" is focused on the issues and people and politics of Oklahoma. "Gallery" showcases the myriad artists, arts, and culture in the state. In less than five months, Perry was promoted to the position, found and equipped office and production space, hired three people, and had "Stateline: Beyond Black and Gold" on the air. That first documentary won Bill and the "Stateline" staff an award from the Independent Producers Association and made the cover of TV Week magazine.

Since the first "Perry Production," Bill and his department have garnered Emmys^®, Clarions, Auroras, NETAs, and countless other regional and state awards from broadcast, journalism, and other professional organizations.

Bill Perry doesn't limit himself to his profession. He consistently involves himself in helping the community in many ways. He and fellow members of the 1997 class of the Oklahoma City Citizens Police Academy adopted the motto "Ready to Help." He has a special place in his heart for the nonprofit Christian Retirement Community and has volunteered countless hours helping raise funds and assisting with promotional materials.

Bill has mentored and aided the careers of scores of people with whom he has worked. Additionally, for the past decade, he has involved himself, recruited, produced, and even swept stages and schlepped props for the annual Oklahoma City Gridiron Club political parody show, in the effort to raise money for Oklahoma Journalism student scholarships.

And please know for a fact that Bill Perry continues a dedication and commitment to bring the best, award-winning documentary productions to viewers in the heart of the Heartland.

— William C. "Bill" Thrash (1939-2013)

"I have worked with Bill Perry for only a short time, but I can tell you he is one of the most talented content producers with whom I've ever had the pleasure to work. His instincts are consummate, and his attention to detail and nuance are unparalleled. The way in which he guides the creative process is a master class in content production. He knows and loves the television industry, and over his decades of service to it, has touched so many lives. Both those whom he has mentored, and the Oklahomans who have learned and benefited from the wonderful content he has stewarded." — Polly Anderson, OETA Executive Director

Bill Perry is OETA's Vice President of Content Production. If you are going to the Oklahoma City show, thank Bill Perry; his contributions to Heartland are enormous.

Gold Circle Honoree

Jerry Dishong

No bio available at this time.

Gold Circle Honoree

Bill Thrash

For more than 50 years Bill Thrash has stood for quality programming in Oklahoma commercial and educational television. Currently the Station Manager at OETA The Oklahoma Network, and with no apparent plans to retire soon, he is widely recognized for his dedication to, and enduring love for, his community, his state and his profession. Bill is described as a manager, producer, director, cameraman, writer, teacher and friend – all rolled into one person. His creativity and innovation have helped to advance the television industry to the benefit of many, on both sides of the screen. In 1955 he began his career at KTEN in Ada, then on to KOCO and KFOR (formerly WKY-TV), and to OETA in 1988. During his 16 years with KFOR he directed “The Stars and Stripes Show” and supervised the “Dannysday” talk show with Danny Williams and Mary Hart. He also worked with Bob Dotson on Oklahoma’s only National Emmy^® award winning news documentary, “Through the Looking Glass, Darkly.” While at OETA he directs the wraparounds for the weekly “Lawrence Welk Show” and, more recently, was instrumental in the complex and sometimes tedious transition to the digital world – working with neighboring stations to serve the viewing public. Throughout his years of hard work, Bill has been recognized by civic and arts organization for his community service, and by his peers with Emmy^® awards, a National Iris nomination, two Western Heritage awards, an AWRT Lifetime Achievement award, a Golden Grid Programmer of the Year award – and he is also a member of our own Silver Circle. He encourages students interested in a career in broadcasting to pursue a variety of subjects, rather than to focus exclusively on media-related courses, believing that real professionals understand everything from politics to the arts, to pop culture and local history. This is a man who has devoted his life to delivering the very best in television programming to all the audiences he serves.

Gold Circle Honoree

Ned Hockman

Charles Nedwin “Ned” Hockman’s career spans 59 years, starting in 1947 as a combat cameraman in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operation. An Oklahoma native, Ned attended Cameron College and the University of Oklahoma before being drafted into the Army in 1942, where he served with the Air Corp’s First Motion Picture Unit. He helped photograph and produce hundreds of training films under the supervision of unit commander Ronald Reagan. In 1949 he became Director of Motion Picture Production at OU, and helped establish film production studies there. He was the official cinematographer for the OU Athletic Department from 1949-1985, and began producing a weekly highlight reel that was distributed nationally to publicize college football in a brand new way. Students, peers and journalism professionals agree that Ned always advocated the basics of journalism: Pictures Tell the Story, and Learn to Write Well. He directed the film “Stark Fear” a New York Times Critic’s Pick in 1963, and was a US delegate to the Cannes Film Festival in 1965. He served as the president of the Oklahoma Motion Picture Hall of Fame for 20 years until 2005.

Ned Hockman is one of the founders of the National Press Photographers Association workshop in Norman, Oklahoma, and for 30 years was its host and co-director (31 years on the faculty). Today the NPPA workshops draw hundreds of television professionals from around the world. Ned is the recipient of the prestigious Joseph A. Sprague Memorial Award, and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. He has produced over 200 films and television programs and has received numerous awards and accolades – and still maintains that the best reward is the phrase, “...oh, I see what you mean!” Ned and his wife, Loretta Mae, reside in Norman.

Gold & Silver Circle Honoree

Tom Cook

W. Thomas Cook was born in McCook, Nebraska. He received his BA and Master's Degrees from Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado). Tom began his career in radio at KBRL-AM-1450 in 1948. He was a member of the Council for Public Broadcasting at KRMA-TV in Denver starting in 1965; he served on the Board of Directors for Rocky Mountain PBS for 32 years. Tom was also the host of "Denver Showcase" on KOA-TV (now KCNC) from 1979 to 1991. During this time, Tom interviewed leading figures in politics, the arts, sciences, and sports.

With the opening of Metropolitan State College in 1965, Professor Cook became a charter member of the Faculty, and he established the first broadcasting curriculum in the state. This led to the first Broadcasting/Telecommunications major program, leading to a Baccalaureate degree in 1976. It was during this time that Tom, working with his good friend Carl Akers, started the first internship at KBTV-TV and radio in 1968. Today, Metro students are participating in 140 telecommunications internships throughout the region and the U.S.

Tom has received many honors during his career, including the Distinguished Faculty Award from Metro State College in 1983 and the Distinguished Service award in 1988. The Colorado/Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences inducted him into the Silver Circle in 1999 – the first educator to be so honored. And in March of 2002, the Colorado Broadcast Pioneers inducted him into their Hall of Fame. Tom served on the Board of Governors for the Colorado/Heartland Chapter and was an enthusiastic member of the Education and Scholarship committees. In his honor, the Chapter has established the W. Thomas Cook Scholarship.

The good works of Tom's life will carry on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Silver Circle Inductee: 1999

Gold Circle Honoree

Harry Hoth

For more than fifty years, Harry W. Hoth has demonstrated what it means to be a local broadcaster committed to community service. Hoth started at KRDO radio while studying at Colorado College. The former Marine gained the respect of station ownership, and they followed his advice to add a television signal to their radio property. KRDO TV went on the air in 1953, and Hoth became President and General Manager. The Pikes Peak Broadcasting Company now includes two TV stations – KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs and KJCT-TV in Grand Junction, and three radio stations – KRDO AM and FM, and KSKX FM in Colorado Springs.

From the early days of black and white cameras and vacuum tube transmitters, his station provided live coverage of news and community events. His station was the first in the market to telecast live pictures from the top of Pikes Peak, first with local telecasts in color, and first to deliver television programming to Southern Colorado residents through an extensive network of mountaintop translators. It was the first with live coverage of fairs, parades, and graduations and the first to use modern Electronic News Gathering. But his concept of community service also extends beyond dedicated news reporting.

Hoth served as Mayor of Colorado Springs from 1963 to 1967. His foresight and leadership resulted in an ambitious pipeline project, bringing snowmelt to front-range reservoirs. He is the former Chairman of the Air Service Task Force and is a former Chairman and Life Member of the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council.

Harry W. Hoth was named Broadcaster of the Year by the Colorado Broadcasters Association in 1969 and again in 1985, and the CBA's Harry W. Hoth Community Service Award is given to the broadcaster who demonstrates sustained commitment to community service.

Gold Circle Honoree

Noel Jordan

In 1937, Mr. Jordan graduated from Harvard with honors and headed straight for the National Broadcasting Company in New York, where he started as a page. In 1939, he was transferred to the newly formed Television Department where he worked as a property man, floor manager, and, in a crisis, spare announcer and any other position that needed filling. He was part of the original station staff when NBC inaugurated the first regular TV broadcast service in the U.S. After a 4-year tour with the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII, he returned to the NBC Television Department and became a Producer/Director on numerous programs during one of the most exciting times our industry has seen. He directed the first live telecast of the NBC Symphony with Toscanini, the first live telecast from the United Nations, the first live telecast from a submarine, the first live telecast from an aircraft carrier, and the Republican, Democratic, and Progressive Political Conventions from Philadelphia. He was also an accomplished writer for the network, handling genres from documentaries to dramas.

In 1948, Mr. Jordan moved to Denver and began teaching radio, TV, and film at the University of Denver. He taught television to students when there was no working TV station in Denver; so effective were his methods that students were able not only to identify TV equipment when visiting other cities but also describe how and why it functioned, just from having been in Mr. Jordan's classes!

In 1952, Mr. Jordan joined John Newell and Herman Urshell to form Western Cine Service, Inc., for years the largest film-processing lab between Kansas City and L.A. He hosted "The Right to Talk" on KWGN-TV and was appointed to the Colorado Education Television Commission in 1962 by Governor McNichols.

Mr. Jordan's intelligence, commitment to high standards, and passion for radio, television, and film have influenced several generations of broadcast students, as well as many of our leaders and colleagues in the industry.

Silver Circle Honoree

Vic Lombardi

"And that's how we DO IT on the west side!" That was just one of Vic Lombardi's signature calls as he delivered the highlights and other sports news and insights on the CBS4 5, 6 and 10PM newscasts every weeknight for years. He grew up on the west side of Denver, was a fan of all Denver sports and became a ball boy for the Denver Nuggets, tossing the ball to NBA greats such as Bill Hanzlik, Alex English, and to a coach named Doug Moe.

It was that passion for sports at an early age that pushed him to a career in broadcasting and he got his first sports broadcasting job in Elkhart, Indiana in 1991, leading to jobs in Austin, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, before going back home to the sports world and community he knew best at KCNC-TV in 1998, where he took home 28 regional Emmy^® awards. In 2015, he moved on to Altitude Sports & Entertainment, hosting Nuggets pre-game and post-game shows. In late 2017, Vic turned to another form of media – the radio waves. He was part of the launch of Altitude Sports Radio, and in 2019 the morning show “Moser, Lombardi & Kane” was formed and four years later, that morning show became the #1 morning sports show in Denver.

He also understands his standing in the community and emcees 40-50 charity events around Colorado. Denver has seen multiple championships by the Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, and Vic has been there the entire way, reporting on every championship. The term “legend” is not a term used for many, but when all is said and done, Vic Lombardi will be remembered for being a sports broadcasting legend in Denver.

Silver Circle Honoree

Rob Quirk

When he began his career in 1980 as a daily newscast researcher at KAET in Tempe, Arizona, Rob Quirk could not have predicted how the broadcast industry would change. But what never changed was his professionalism, reliability, integrity and desire to serve the viewers.

He was an anchor, producer, writer, editor and producer (KAET), a one-man band journalist (KUSK), executive producer, news anchor and reporter (KPTX), weeknight news reporter (KCNC). But it was at KOAA, where he began in 1989 as weekend anchor and weekday reporter, then on to weekday evening news anchor, where he covered some of Colorado’s and the nation’s biggest stories, including United Flight 585 Crash, the Tim McVeigh trial, New Life Church shooting, Columbine, the Democratic National Convention, Waldo Canyon Fire, Black Forest Fire and many more. Working with crews in the field and back at the station, Rob clearly was a journalist who cared deeply about covering these unforgettable events - at the same time, helping, teaching and mentoring young reporters, producers and photographers who had never been this close to what would ultimately be monumental and historic times.

Dedicating 35 years to KOAA, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and a steadfast commitment to excellence. And his work took him outside of the newsroom, where he emceed and hosted hundreds of nonprofit occasions, including the Air Force Academy Graduation, the MDA Telethon, the MS Walk, the State Fair, the Charity Cancer Ball and the D-11 Crystal Apple Awards, honoring outstanding teachers, as well as moderating multiple widely broadcast debates among Mayoral, Senate, and Gubernatorial candidates. We welcome Rob Quirk to the Heartland Silver Circle!

Silver Circle Honoree

Manny Sotelo

Photojournalist Manny Sotelo has been in the middle of Colorado and national news for 40 years at KUSA-TV, leading a team of photojournalists, recruiting, hiring, training, and guiding them to extraordinary performance as one of the best teams of news photographers in America, as evidenced by being named the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Large Market Station of the Year for what is now a record 14 times. An expert at lighting, composition, audio and editing, his projects have influenced generations of Colorado news viewers. His friends and co-workers describe him as a photographer, journalist, lighting expert, teacher, mentor, and leader. When the community is mourning, Manny offers support. He’s shown that so many times, through so many heart-breaking stories: fires and floods, the Columbine and Aurora Theater shootings, and the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, as well as national events such as the Pope’s visit, Super Bowls, Presidential elections, and the Olympics.

In 1986, 9News sent a team to Cape Canaveral, Florida to do features on the Challenger Mission, one that had several Colorado ties including a CU Boulder satellite on board. A group of teachers and students from elementary schools in Boulder County were also there to watch “history in the making” and on the morning of the launch, Manny focused on them. When the Shuttle exploded, Manny recorded the most emotional, yet professional story, working in silence, from a short distance away from people so he wouldn’t upset them or affect the scene. Manny was not only a journalist covering those kids, but he was also their friend.

Manny befriends many of the people in his stories, including Randle Loeb, a man living on the streets and working for the Denver Voice – a newspaper that empowers people experiencing homelessness. He still keeps in touch with him. He interviewed a historian about the Greeley Grays, a Latino semi-professional baseball team in the 1940’s in northern Colorado, a story that only he could have told with his characteristic empathy and became his friend. Over the past 40 years, Manny has covered big stories important to the fabric of Colorado. His care for each story is unmatched and even after four decades of work, his love for his craft has never wavered.

Silver Circle Honoree

Mark Cornetta

Mark Cornetta, Senior Vice President of VP TEGNA and President and General Manager of KUSA/KTVD-TV, began his television career at KCNC-TV Denver in the early 1980’s. While becoming a top account executive, he was recruited by KUSA-TV in 1987, becoming their General Sales Manager in 1992. He became President and General Manager of KUSA, while assuming the role of Senior Vice President of TEGNA, currently overseeing three other TEGNA stations. He is considered one of the leaders in television in Colorado. As one of his long-time coworkers, Patti Dennis, noted, “He is often the first one in the office and often the last one to leave. If there is a news crisis, Mark is always at the station making sure the journalists have all they need to cover breaking news.” He has also made significant contributions to the Denver community. Under his leadership, 9News has helped raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local nonprofits that include among others, Food Bank of the Rockies and Dumb Friends League, and he was one of the founders of Colorado Succeeds, a statewide business advocacy organization focused on improving Colorado’s education and workforce development systems. He worked with Trinity United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Ken Brown in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in 2020 to create forums to confront longstanding divides regarding racial perspectives. Pastor Brown said, “Mark lives the values 9News espouses – community bravery, inclusivity, passion and integrity.”

Silver Circle Honoree

Dave Grant

Long-time co-worker, Larry Hatteberg, sums up the career of Silver Circle Honoree Dave Grant succinctly. “If you had to design a newsroom leader, it would be Dave Grant. He has held nearly every position in the newsroom. For the staff, he is the rock, he is the calm and he is your friend. To those in upper management, he is a truth-teller. He won’t always tell them what they want to hear, but he will tell him what they “need” to hear.” Dave Grant has been a reporter, anchor, producer, assistant news director, news director, web wizard and a bureau chief for western Kansas. Currently producer and assistant news director at KAKE since 1995, he manages dozens of reporters, photographers and producers for the daily news operation, even filling in for the web and producer team when needed. He mentors the next generation of broadcasters by organizing the station’s internship and job shadow program, giving high school and college students hands-on experience through mock storytelling and newscasts. His prior experience included stints at KWCH-TV as a reporter, producer and news anchor as well as anchor/reporter for KAYS-TV. He believes in supporting the Wichita community through a remarkable group of non-profit organizations that include serving on the board of directors for the Greater Wichita YMCA, being a Cub Scout Leader with the Boy Scouts of America’s Quivira Council and President of the Wichita Heights High School Booster Club. The Heartland Chapter is proud to welcome Dave Grant to our distinguished Silver Circle Roster.

Silver Circle Honoree

Tim Ryan

Tim Ryan began his broadcasting career in 1985. As a newly-minted graduate of the famed Missouri School of Journalism, his first job was KFSM-TV in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as a reporter, photographer, editor, producer and weekend news anchor. Moving to KAKE-TV in Wichita, Kansas, he served as assignment editor, then moved to KUSA-TV in Denver in 1991, where he began as assignment editor, then promoted to assistant news director. Stories under his leadership included the Salt Lake City Olympics, the visit of Pope John Paul II to Colorado, and the mass shootings of Columbine and the Aurora theater. He helped guide reporter mentoring, editorial content and approval, to create the thorough in-depth news coverage that is a hallmark of the station. He even managed to complete a Master’s degree in history from the University of Colorado Denver in 1997, and is famously known for is his ability to cite the Presidents of the United States of America in order along with their years in office. In 2017, he took on the responsibilities of news director at KVUE Media Group in Austin, where he directed newsgathering staff as well as their social and digital platforms. But in 2020, KUSA recruited him back to Denver as director of content for 9NEWS, where he is responsible for recruiting journalists and leading the team producing content on all 9 NEWS platforms. KUSA President and General Manager Mark Cornetta believes, “he is as much an engaged student of the industry as he has been a leader in it.”

Silver Circle Honoree

Rick Sallinger

Rick Sallinger, a true TV legend, has worked in Denver television news for more than 34 years and in broadcast news across the country and world for more than 50 years.

Rick’s career in broadcast news began at the University of Illinois where, from 1967 – 1971, he was an announcer, newscaster, reporter and program director at WPGU Radio and his first full-time radio news reporting job was at WERE Radio, Cleveland. He moved to NBC radio news at WMAQ and WNIS-FM, Chicago., transitioning to television news as a reporter for WRTV, Indianapolis. He moved to KUSA-TV Denver (then known as KBTV), with positions at WMAQ-TV Chicago, and CNN London. While Rick was a foreign correspondent for CNN, he covered international stories throughout Europe and the Mideast, that included the Gulf War, the civil war in Yugoslavia, the reunification of Germany, among others.

Now at KCNC-TV Denver for over 28 years., he is best known for his hard news coverage and investigative journalism honored in 2005 with a Peabody award, and for telling the stories of his community with a heartfelt passion that shows in each of his reports. His son, Marc Sallinger, a reporter with KUSA-TV in Denver, credits him with teaching him what it means to be a journalist and telling the stories of people who don’t feel like they have a voice, saying “The name Rick Sallinger seems to have become synonymous with Denver news and that’s because he’s covered nearly every major story in Colorado since 1993.” The Heartland Chapter welcomes Rick Sallinger to its distinguished roster of Silver Circle Honorees.

Silver Circle Honoree

Deborah Takahara

Deborah Takahara spent 28 years in television news, creating an impact on countless lives and used her journalism skills to right wrongs and improve lives. After graduating from the University of California at Irvine, she began working at KHBS-TV, in Fort Smith, Arkansas as a reporter, then worked at KATV-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas, working her way up to weekday morning anchor. She returned to California to work for KNSD-TV in San Diego as an anchor and reporter, with stints for NBC News, covering major news stories on the West Coast as well as reporting for KTVT-TV in Dallas.

In 2006, she began working at KDVR-TV and KWGN-TV as an anchor and reporter. Her stories range from fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and the Super Bowl, with wide-ranging interviews of both celebrities, everyday people and families who have lost everything. She never lost sight of the power of media and her impact on making people’s lives better. Just one example among her many achievements: She helped raised $1.5 million dollars as part of a station initiative to purchase rifle ready tactical gear for police and first responders whose departments couldn't afford the live-saving equipment.

In 2022, she transitioned from her journalism career into another form of public service. She's the public affairs specialist for the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. And she hopes to utilize her unique skill set to communicate what's being done at the federal level to make our community safer. The Heartland Chapter is honored to have her among our Silver Circle Honorees in 2023.

Silver Circle Honoree

Dominic Dezzutti

Dominic Dezzutti began his television career at Colorado Public Television PBS 12 in 1996 as a production intern and was quickly hired as the production assistant for their public affairs show, "Colorado Inside Out." In his 26-year career, he advanced to Director of Production and finally to Station Manager, living by the motto that to truly lead, one must serve others.

He initiated multiple Colorado content partnerships with AARP, Colorado OEDIT, and JVA, as well as negotiating exclusive international broadcast partnerships with NHK World Japan and Deutsche Welle. Key programs developed under his leadership include "Colorado Inside Out" as both host and executive producer, an election debate series partnership with CBS4 - "Colorado Decides" - as both host and executive producer, and "High School Debate Series," building debate skills in community youth, especially underserved communities.

His work has garnered six regional Emmy^® Awards, eight Colorado Broadcasters Association Awards of Excellence, and was the recipient of the Board of Governors Award from the Heartland Emmy^® Chapter. His work extends to supporting the Colorado community. He is on the Executive Committee and is the External Committee Chair for Brent’s Place, sustaining families in long-term medical crises, as well as supporting the Metro Caring Food Bank and the Anti-Hunger Center. Past service includes serving as President and National Trustee of the Heartland Emmy^® Chapter from 1998-2015.

Editor of Westword and frequent "Colorado Inside Out" panelist Patricia Calhoun believes Dominic plays "a key role in this state, expanding community involvement by keeping important discussions entertaining, intelligent, and, above all, civil."

Silver Circle Honoree

Holly Gauntt

Denver 7 News Director Holly Gaunt leads their newsroom and production of news on all platforms, including television, streaming, and digital. She oversees 100 journalists who comprise the teams producing newscasts, providing editorial decisions required to give viewers news coverage in the Denver metro market. Her career began in the early 1980s at two Denver television stations, working as a production assistant, writer, and producer before taking a producer role in New Orleans. Other opportunities beckoned at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, as Managing Editor; WBAL-TV in Baltimore as Executive Producer; Assistant News Director at WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C.; Vice President/News Director at WTXF-TV in Philadelphia; News Director at Seattle's KOMO-TV, KUNS-TV, KOMONEWS.Com; and back to Denver as Vice President of News and Digital Content/News Director at KDVR-TV, KWGN-TV.

Through her leadership roles in the newsroom, she covered the Oklahoma City bombings, the 9/11 attacks, the D.C. area snipers, school shootings, and historic wildfires. She has won eight Edward R. Murrow Awards, 10 Regional Emmy^® Awards, and one national Emmy^® Award for Investigative Journalism. She believes stations have the unique ability and resources to help people in need and created two consumer investigative series called "Problem Solvers" at KOMO-TV and KDVR-TV. She has now implemented "Denver7 Gives," the charitable fund designed to help people who have been victimized by criminals or impacted by disasters. As Denver 7 Vice President and General Manager Dean Littleton notes, "Holly's true north is her heart for people."

Silver Circle Honoree

Dave Tamez

Silver Circle Honoree Dave Tamez creates programs that move hearts and minds through his photography, the programs he produces, and the documentaries he directs. Winner of numerous regional Emmy^® Awards, he combines his love of photography, lighting, and editing in his work. He's also a brilliant teacher, helping to make OETA in Oklahoma City a learning center for young photographers through his high standards for program and segment content development, photography, and editing. In his 20 years at OETA, he has developed and launched award-winning series that include "Stateline," "Gallery America," and "Back in Time," as well as numerous OETA special programs.

He has performed illustrious work at other stations as well. He served as Chief News Photographer and Special Project Producer at KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City from 1987-2000. The station staff received both a RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award and George Foster Peabody Award in 1996 for their program, "Murrah Bombing."

The words of his peers say it best. Bill Perry, who was VP of Content at OETA, said, "I knew instantly he could turn any vision into a reality. With a handshake, the creative standards of video at OETA were on the road to becoming standard." Video producer Christi McGahan noted, "His storytelling ability is unmatched. There are few media professionals that can do it all from shooting, writing, editing, and producing, but Dave can. He takes documentary storytelling to a new art and performs his art with magic."

Silver Circle Honoree

LeAnne Taylor

From the beginning of LeAnne Taylor’s 37-year (and counting) career in journalism, her passion for people and desire to seek and report the truth has defined her career. She has the ability to relate to Oklahomans while at the same time keeping them safe, informed, and entertained. She is a friend you can trust, who brings you the news on the most-watched morning show in town.

Two years out of college, in a very competitive television market, she earned her spot as KTUL’s weekend anchor. She worked her way up to a health-beat reporter assignment a year later and was promoted to 5 pm co-anchor the next year. She continued her success after moving to KOTV’s morning show, Six in the Morning, in 1998. She helped catapult that show to #1 in the Tulsa market.

Her humility and bravery came into focus in early 2004. From the anchor desk, LeAnne announced she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She became a fearless advocate for survivors, answering calls and questions from viewers and helping them navigate through diagnosis and treatment. She has spent countless hours working as a volunteer in the Susan G. Komen office, delivering care-packages to newly diagnosed patients, registering runners for the Race for the Cure, and giving input on organizational direction in her current role as President of Susan G. Komen Oklahoma.

Whether she is in the newsroom or out in the field reporting on a story, her tenacity is unmatched. This comes from decades of covering Oklahoma’s most important stories. When LeAnne was assigned to cover an explosion at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, she had no idea what a life- and career-changing moment that would be, reporting on one of the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history from ground zero for ten days straight. Viewers later sent LeAnne numerous letters, amazed that she was able to hold it together and deliver the news to them.

LeAnne Taylor is a Tulsa institution and immediately recognizable to just about any Oklahoman on the eastern side of the state. Viewers love LeAnne and feel like she’s a friend. But, perhaps more importantly for a local television journalist, Oklahomans trust her. She seeks and reports the truth, asks the tough questions to those in positions of power, and holds up the figurative mirror to reflect what’s happening in our communities. She believes in reporting the news to Oklahomans, not inserting her opinion to bend the coverage to her worldview. LeAnne Taylor is a consummate professional, effortless communicator, and fierce advocate.

Silver Circle Honoree

Scott Thompson

Scott Thompson had his first foray into "broadcast news" as a first-grader at Webster School in his hometown of Collinsville, Illinois. On the playground, he would mount his Batman lunch box on his shoulder, grip a pretend microphone in his left hand, and roam around during lunch recess, asking his fellow seven-year-olds questions like, "What are you doing?" and "How long have you been doing it?"

For those living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the three other states reached by the signal of KOTV, it’s fortunate that Scott not only continued his TV career on the school playground but grew his skills and passion into a remarkable body of work and commitment to the Tulsa community.

Scott is an artist with words. The pictures he paints are an unforgettable tableau of the human condition and a reminder of the hope, joy, and beauty that surround us, if only we take the time to look.

Silver Circle Honoree

Brian Maass

Brian Maass is the kind of guy who brings his kids to an IRE meeting. Investigative reporting is not just a job for Maass. It is who he is. "Maass never stops working," says Kristine Strain, CBS Assistant News Director. "He works on vacations and holidays, in the middle of the night and at the crack of dawn. I have wondered all these years if the man ever sleeps. Why does he do this? It is not for fame or notoriety. He is driven by the desire to get everything right and to serve our community."

"Brian brings notable talent to the Heartland's Silver Circle," wrote Governor John W. Hickenlooper. "As he has honored the values of journalism for more than 30 years. Denver and Colorado are better because of his commitment to share our city and state's story. Brian has been reporting on Colorado's top issues in government for as long as I have been in the state - first as a brewer, and then as mayor and governor. In business and in government, we always kept an eye on the investigators because you never wanted to hear 'It's Brian Maass' on the other end of the phone. If you received that call, you knew one thing: Brian was checking into a tip that someone was being treated unfairly, or that a government employee was mismanaging their office, and an investigation was underway."

"I'm a strong defender of the media," John Hickenlooper continues, "and believe deeply in its purpose in our society. Brian and his stories have contributed greatly to improving city accountability - in Denver as well as the surrounding suburbs. He knows the power of sources and his medium and he never seeks to use them inappropriately. He maintains an integrity that is sometimes hard to find in investigative reporting these days."

Brian "is among the rare breed of journalist who is both doggedly determined and remarkably compassionate," writes Tim Wieland, News Director, CBS4 Denver. "Investigative reporters are known to be smart and aggressive, but not particularly warm or empathetic. I am impressed by Brian's ability to put himself into another person's position when investigating a story. He first looks for the logical, innocent explanation - before digging deeper and investigating more sinister motives. Upon gathering all the facts, Brian insists that we give those involved in his reporting appropriate time to respond. He always asks for a face-to-face interview or conversation - often asking multiple times - to get all sides of a story. The 'ambush interview' used by so many investigative reporters is only used as a last resort."

For more than twenty years, Brian has been a leading investigative reporter in Colorado and the country. Over the course of his distinguished career, Brian has won many prestigious awards, including multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, Colorado Broadcaster Association Awards, and Emmy Awards®. While the awards are a nice affirmation of a job well done, what matters most to Brian is giving a voice to the voiceless, holding the powerful accountable - and making a difference in the lives of people living in Colorado and the agencies and systems that are supposed to protect them.

"Brian Maass is a champion in the large arena of television journalism due to his exceptionalism and work ethic," writes Todd Bertolet. "Brian Maass emerged as the sole reporter that possessed those extraordinary investigative journalistic qualities to transform the story of the murder of my sister, Toni Bertolet Henthorn, from a mere 'accidental fall' in Rocky Mountain National Park to the reality of the sinister plot of murder at the hands of her husband."

"Some of my best years in television news were spent supporting Brian and his investigations at News 4 in Denver while I was managing editor," writes Jacque Montgomery. "Brian's compassion in storytelling is matched by his dogged pursuit of the truth. He recognizes a story and goes after it. When breaking news like Columbine takes over the entire news day, Brian knows exactly how to use his skills to complement coverage. His completeness in fact-gathering sets the bar for investigative journalists."

Brian is not only a smart, responsible journalist - but also a leader and teacher. Other journalists in the newsroom turn to Brian for guidance. Brian can often be found offering story guidance, interview advice, script feedback, or contact suggestions to CBS4 reporters. He has earned that trust through his commitment to excellence and fairness.

Silver Circle Honoree

Merril Teller

For nearly four decades, Merril Teller has played an important role, not just in the newsroom but also in the homes of the many Kansans who trust him with their lives. Generations of Kansans know Merril as the composed voice informing them when it's time to head for shelter - a source they can trust day in and day out.

Merril's career as a broadcaster started when he was a student, doing weather reports and forecasts for radio stations at Rutgers University and the University of Oklahoma. During his meteorology career, Merril has forecasted for private industries, radio stations, government bodies, and television.

After several years of broadcasting in Texas and Oklahoma, Merril moved to Kansas in 1981 and has served KWCH 12 in Wichita ever since. His work and dedication to the people of Kansas earned him an induction into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2008.

"I have enjoyed the distinct opportunity to partner with Mr. Teller since May of 1995," writes Chance Hayes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "During his time, Mr. Teller confronted all the challenges associated with inclement weather and delivered flawlessly in ensuring the people of Kansas were safe during some of the most dangerous weather scenarios in history. Likely the most prominent was the EF-5 tornado that struck the community of Greensburg, KS, in which a tornado 1 ¾ miles wide moved across the community, producing catastrophic damage."

"One other outbreak was on May 3rd, 1999, in which an F4 tornado moved across portions of the Wichita metropolitan area endangering thousands of lives. Each of these national significant outbreaks had the potential to produce a considerable number of fatalities and injuries. However, the knowledge and respect that Mr. Teller has within the community due to his calm and empathetic demeanor during traumatic times no doubt elicited people to act and seek shelter so that no harm would come to them or their families."

Merril is a teacher, mentor, and friend to many in the newsroom. "I've worked with Merril for almost 20 years now and to this day, turn to him for advice. He's always been a mentor to me in the business. He's a meteorologist first, but Merril has always had a voice in our news coverage as well," KWCH 12 Anchor Michael Schwanke.

Merril has always been dedicated to keeping Kansans informed and safe during severe weather. "Merril served as a calming voice for thousands of Kansans," KDVR Executive Producer Christina Karaoli Taylor said. "I remember when I first moved to Kansas, I was terrified of tornadoes. Watching Merril during severe weather made me feel safe. When I worked with him on shows at KWCH, I got an even greater appreciation for what he did for our viewers."

During his nearly 40 years at KWCH, Merril has broadcasted during some of Kansas' most legendary tornadoes and was often credited with saving the lives of those in their paths. Whether Merril's forecasting directed you to safety or simply helped you decide how to dress for the day ahead, viewers agree he's more than just the weatherman, he's a part of the community.

Humble and friendly, Merril greets every viewer he meets with a smile. "Merril's goofy attitude sets him apart from most. He can always find a fun and unique way to relate the forecast to the viewers. He's relatable and reliable, two qualities most meteorologists strive for. If you call him by the wrong name.

Silver Circle Honoree

Susan Cadot

A broadcast journalist with 30 years of experience, some of the best assets Susan Cadot has brought to her broadcasting career are a creative vision for packaging a story and a remarkable talent for writing. She is an amazing storyteller who can weave a tale using just the right words to mesh with well-chosen images. When creating her segments, she also has the good sense to know when to be quiet and let the video tell the story. Photographers love to work with her. The result is a top-notch catalog of enticing television programs that will last for years in rebroadcast.

Susan began her career at Oklahoma City’s ABC Affiliate, KOCO TV 5 in 1989 where she worked on-air on "Good Morning, Oklahoma". After 18 months at KOCO, Susan moved to northeast Tennessee where she stayed for ten years at a network affiliate anchoring the prime-time evening newscasts and reporting from the field covering everything from ribbon cuttings to mass murders, natural disasters, and national political figures. While in Tennessee, Susan discovered a passion for documentary work when she wrote, edited, and produced a one-hour documentary about the mass murder of a family. She covered the story over the course of a year for her newscast but felt there was more to say about the heinous crime. That one-hour show ended up winning the best documentary from the Tennessee Associated Press.

In 2000, Susan returned home to Oklahoma and began her dream job producing documentaries full-time for the state’s PBS affiliate. During her first 7 years at OETA, Susan produced content for the hour-long, issues-oriented program "Stateline" where she and the rest of the station’s documentary team won an Emmy^® for two years of work on a special program chronicling the construction of a dome on the Oklahoma State Capitol. Susan’s portion of the program dealt with the dome’s structure and how it was made. Alongside the photographer, Susan climbed the dizzying 8 stories to the top of the dome scaffolding to interview the workers who were putting the limestone pieces into place. Back on the ground, she was equally comfortable interviewing the Oklahoma Governor and the supervisors of the crews building the dome. When the documentary was completed, it went on to win an Emmy^® for Susan and the others who worked on it. In 2017, at the request of the Governor of Oklahoma, on the 100th anniversary of the capitol building dedication, the documentary "Oklahoma Rising" was broadcast again.

Susan continued to work on dozens of significant and diverse "Stateline" documentary topics, including unusual religions in Oklahoma, the decline of newspapers, the crisis at county jails, career opportunities for the mentally challenged, families dealing with autism, the status of transplants for patients with life-threatening ailments, and unsolved crimes. In each instance, Susan used her interviewing skills blended with likability and empathy for those who shared their information with her. Her work built an ever-growing network of friends and officials who trusted her.

In 2008, Susan changed the content of her storytelling to pursue a long-time ambition of sharing stories about the arts, covering the Oklahoma arts scene for OETA. Susan gave OETA viewers a comprehensive tour of the extraordinary artwork that fills the walls of the State Capitol, took them to a ringside seat at the National Cake Decorators’ competition, let them hear what motivates someone who has happily made a career out of acting, even though Broadway is more than a thousand miles away, showed the inner workings and dedication of the musicians who make up the state’s two major University marching bands (Emmy^® winner), and opened everyone’s eyes about what it takes to raise farm animals destined for intense livestock competition at the Oklahoma State Fair (Emmy^® winner). Along the way, Susan showcased dozens of individual artists and performers. Amber Sharples, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Arts Council, says: "Susan’s efforts on 'Gallery America' and other programs for the arts and more highlight her determination to give viewers compelling perspectives into rich and nuanced issues that are too often rarely given the spotlight but are nonetheless vital for an educated, democratically-governed society."

She has won 4 Emmy^® awards for her work and a Best of Show and First place award from the National Educational Telecommunications Association; a National Clarion Award from Women in Communication, along with several awards from state journalism organizations, OBA, SPJ, and the Associated Press. In December of 2016, Susan received the prestigious Governor’s Arts Award in Media.

Silver Circle Honoree

Sam Jones

Sam Jones is a television legend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He began his career working in radio and television in Arkansas, eventually in production, as a reporter, and weekend anchor for KTHV-TV, the CBS affiliate in Little Rock. His beat became state government with a focus on the Governor's office. In 1976, he was promoted to the Monday through Friday prime anchor spot. After six months, he was offered the additional duties of Assistant News Director. Not long after this promotion, news came of the American Embassy takeover in Iran. Three military personnel and one political prisoner were from Arkansas. The station sent Sam to what was then West Germany to cover their pending release. The first time was a false alarm, but the second time they were released, and he was there for their arrival. In addition to stories he sent to his home state by satellite, he soon found himself a junior member of the CBS news team as a stringer. He filed stories for both his station in Little Rock and for CBS news. He was sent to Washington, D.C. to cover the official "welcome home" ceremonies at the White House.

Sam Jones was recruited to work at KJRH-TV Tulsa in 1981 as their evening anchor. He started covering city and county government. His goals were evident: to tell stories about the treasures of Oklahoma, the people and their day-to-day accomplishments. Sam quickly became known as a man who not only anchored the news but as a skilled reporter who knew how to ask tough questions and find answers. He spent many years both in front of and behind the camera and continues to pass his knowledge on to those wanting to learn about true journalism.

Sam has spent his life working to tell the stories of others and advocate for those who may not have had a voice. His career has put him in the room with everyone from civil rights activist Rosa Parks to former President Bill Clinton. Long before he ever moved to the Heartland market, he had established himself as a journalist who knew the value of good storytelling and the importance of giving others a voice.

Many still talk about a documentary it took a year for him to write and produce called "Spirit of The Fire." Working virtually every weekend in the Cookson Hills of Western Oklahoma, Sam was allowed to take cameras into the Keetoowah society and document their way of life and ceremonies. He took viewers on a journey and gave them a glimpse of things never seen before by the outside world. Many of the interviews and conversations were translated from Cherokee so viewers could understand the processes and words. The historic piece is now housed in the Smithsonian and is still used today as a marker for the right way to share the story of a people and their journey. A second documentary, "The Little Giant from Little Dixie," on the life of former Speaker of the House Carl Albert, is also in the Smithsonian collection.

Sam used his "Traveling 2 Country" series to introduce viewers to people like Charles Banks Wilson, an Oklahoma artist whose works hang in the Smithsonian, Washington's Library of Congress, and the Oklahoma State Capitol.

In 1990, he was offered the dual role of anchor/producer of "Oklahoma Forum," a daily public affairs show on KTFO-TV. In 1992, management asked him to host "Open Line," a nightly one-hour show that involved Sam fielding live phone calls. He also wrote, produced, and anchored hour and half-hour specials. A few years later, in 1994, KOTV-TV, the CBS affiliate, called, offering Sam the chance to do his call-in show there. Plus, they wanted him to have live music, to hire a band of his choice, and to expand the content. Sam added humorous news headlines, interviews, and guest musicians. He hired the Sonny Gray Trio, all members of the Jazz Hall of Fame and well known across the country and in Tulsa. In its first year, the new show, "You're On," with Sam Jones, earned an Emmy^® nomination in the interview and discussion category.

In 1996, Sam broke the story of an ongoing shooting situation in which Tulsa Police Officer Dick Hobson was killed and officer Steve Downey was injured. His coverage received an Emmy^® nomination.

Sam has a way of telling the stories of the hidden and sometimes forgotten people of this state. From young elementary school-aged kids competing in the Special Olympics to a young man scratching out a life on the streets and living in a dumpster.

Since 2006, Sam has hosted and helped produce a weekly public affairs show, "Green Country Perspectives," at RSU-TV, where he also mentors young broadcast and writing students. He received two Emmys^® for programs "Not in My Family" on domestic abuse, and a half-hour special on country music legend "Jana Jae".

His integrity and the ability to look into the souls of the people in the stories he tells have always shone through his work. This also tells what kind of person he is. Honest, listening, proud, with his eyes always open to what and who is around him and the stories they have to share.

Silver Circle Honoree

Tony Kovaleski

"Stories produce stories," Tony Kovaleski often says. He's right. If Tony didn't live by that principle, he wouldn't be the stellar journalist, mentor, and everyday person Colorado knows well today.

Tony's story as a journalist began in Eureka, California in 1983. He held nearly every job title at the tiny KIEM-TV. He then moved to Reno, Nevada, where he worked for roughly five years at KTVN-TV, leaving the station as assistant news director.

Like anyone who has a large, infectious personality, Tony eventually outgrew the confines of small-market television. His career began to flourish after he accepted a general assignment and investigative reporting job at KNXV-TV in Phoenix, Arizona, where we have documented proof that his signature suspenders were born into his wardrobe long before his time in Denver!

Tony has earned some of the highest honors in television journalism – deservedly so. Just in the last decade, he picked up a National Emmy^® Award, a Sigma Delta Chi Award, and an Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University Award. He's also collected more than two dozen local and regional awards.

Tony's work has had a profound impact on the communities he's served. In 2008, he uncovered emergency response failures at Denver International Airport, which forced the City of Denver to position a full-time ambulance there. In 2010, he exposed Governor-appointed directors for the state's largest worker's compensation insurance provider on a junket to Pebble Beach. Both stories have made Tony's name synonymous with high-quality investigative journalism.

Just last year, Tony's work changed how law enforcement agencies respond to domestic violence calls. Some of those agencies didn't prioritize the calls, which may have contributed to the deaths of a number of women.

This year, Tony's work has Colorado lawmakers addressing why schools are failing to tell parents about school employees who are accused of crimes. In one case, there's evidence that leaders at one of the most high-profile public school districts in the state covered up allegations of sexual misconduct by a teacher. Their actions led to criminal charges against them and likely contributed to the teacher victimizing other students for years.

Unquestionably, Tony's reputation has made him one of the most trusted people in Colorado – even among people who had to answer some of his toughest questions in the field. Former longtime Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said, "Without exception, my interactions with Mr. Kovaleski have shown him to be forthright and direct – he might ask hard questions, but I always knew he would report honestly." Former Denver District Attorney Communications Director Lynn Kimbrough said, "In all the years I have known Tony, he has repeatedly proven that he is a tenacious searcher of the truth, a patient researcher of documents, and a fair reporter of facts that his searching uncovers."

Colleagues – past and present – laud Tony for having a profound impact on the television news industry on the whole. "Tony's reporting is courageous," former KMGH-TV News Director Jeff Harris said. "He has guts. I've been with him as he's stood up to the most powerful people and organizations. Most importantly, his reporting has stood up."

Anne Trujillo recalls working with Tony on several Columbine High School stories: "One night on Denver7, our station was airing an exclusive interview with the mother of one of the Columbine shooters, and we knew this would be a tough night of television for our Colorado families. Tony was instrumental in working with the 10pm team to create a compassionate newscast with personal stories of impact that did not sensationalize the event. That newscast won an Emmy^® for Best 10pm Newscast.

Tony is also a mentor. He regularly interacts with young, aspiring journalists to share the tricks of the trade – to help their work stand out in a way that will benefit the communities they'll serve in their careers.

At a time when our critics are questioning the very nature of free speech and the free press, Tony is not stopping his hard-hitting reporting on issues of transparency, public corruption, and open government. He is laying the groundwork for the next generation of reporters. He is a dedicated teacher, coach, and mentor for investigative journalism – not only in his newsroom but in his company and amongst his professional colleagues. Reporters from cubs to veterans look up to Tony.

Silver Circle Honoree

Carl Bilek

It is not often we meet someone who truly makes a difference in the lives of others, but Carl Bilek is one of those people. He started on the desk when he was barely 20. His giggle was infectious; his work ethic contagious. Beginning as an intern, Carl inhaled every job description assigned to him at KWGN from 1989 to 2008: part-time writer, full-time associate producer, weekend producer, weekday producer, executive producer, assistant news director, and finally, news director.

His skill sets in television news grew rapidly. Strong on both the content and production sides, Carl could switch on a dime and give you nine cents change. He was the most consistent performer in the newsroom every day, with every job assigned to him. The consummate team player, the teacher, the glue. Carl made everyone on the team, both in the newsroom and in the studio, feel their jobs were essential to the success of the project at hand.

Watching Carl interact with reporters to bring out their best work was the best show in the newsroom. He worked with reporters, novice and seasoned professionals, helping them craft sometimes challenging assignments into well-thought-out stories. Occasionally, this was as simple as encouraging them to call someone else for information that could help them delve deeper into the story. Other times he would blow up their scripts and help them rebuild their packages from scratch. The reporters didn't mind because Carl always did it with a smile and explained why he was doing it in a way that was never condescending.

Carl took the time to make certain the person he was working with knew he wasn't just changing their script for the sake of change. He used every opportunity as a teaching moment, and the product was always better on that night and subsequent nights. While each story in a newscast stands out on its own, Carl was directing the story the newscast would tell as a whole, and the best way to do that was to start with the initial story selection.

Leading the news gathering operation at KMGH beginning in 2008, Carl became the nexus point in the newsroom. People gravitated to him. Journalists sought his guidance, direction, sensibilities, and compassion. Carl's innate ability to see the world as a positive place and instinctively put things in perspective gave life and force to the newsroom. As a news leader, Carl guided the reporting and editorial spirit. Under his direction, KMGH won numerous awards and distinctions. He was fair and thoughtful. Appropriately skeptical. Inquisitive and curious. And always understood and embraced the importance of our role in the community and democracy.

Carl's sense of dedication to family is always forefront. His oldest son fondly remembers car trips with Dad joyfully singing along to the newest song from Disney Channel. Taking an active role in the lives of five children, helping lug a tuba to and from band class, taking the girls to ballet, helping with homework, his perseverance feels like an overflowing pot of love and pride for his children.

Carl has served his community and the television industry with honor throughout his career. In addition, his service to the Heartland Chapter of NATAS and the National Board of Trustees has been exemplary. The level of respect that Carl has earned from his colleagues is a testament to not only the kind of professional Carl is but the kind of representative the television industry has in Carl.

It is how someone acts when the chips are down that you find who they really are. Carl has proven to colleagues both inside television stations and within NATAS that he can be relied upon for steady guidance and strong moral fiber, even in the most difficult of times.

Currently, as National Director of Content for Scripps, Carl steers daily national news coverage for more than a dozen television stations. In 2016, Carl also led Scripps coverage of two political conventions, several Presidential debates, the 2016 Presidential election, and the inauguration. His presence and leadership brought balance, credibility, and organization to those important moments in television. While leading the team, he is also a mentor to reporters and photographers. With his decades of experience, Carl coaches the reporters to become better storytellers and to always focus on facts and accuracy. On a daily basis, with each reporter he coaches, Carl continues to raise the standard of our industry.

Silver Circle Honoree

Tom Green

Tom is one of the most recognized people in Denver television, having spent more than 35 years just in that city alone. First in sports, he has now been the face of morning TV on Channel 2 for more than 15 years. In addition to 10 Emmy^® awards, Tom was named the Colorado Sportscaster of the Year 4 times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Associations.

Tom grew up in New York City, attended Ithaca College, and then started his TV career at a station in New Haven, Connecticut. He joined ESPN in the early days and was honored to work with and learn from big sports names: Bob Ley, Chris Berman, Greg Gumbel, Tom Mees, and Sal Marchiano.

Tom drove across the country to Colorado in 1982 to start his Denver career as a sportscaster at KUSA, where he says his mentors were Mike Nolan, Gary Cruz, and Corey McPherrin. Later, Tom became the main sports anchor at KMGH.

His experience also includes play-by-play, color, and sideline reporting for ABC and Fox Sports. Tom spent time in Hollywood hosting game shows, including a show called "Sports on Tap," a fast-paced, funny quiz show on ESPN.

Tom uses his standing as a respected journalist to raise awareness for a variety of good causes. Since 2001, he has promoted the "9/11 Day of Giving," raising nearly 1 million dollars in donations for the New York firefighters fund. In the past three years, he has helped raise an average $120,000 per year for Colorado cancer charities. For sixteen years, he has served as a board member of the Gold Crown Foundation, educating youth and community through sports and enrichment.

In 2002, Tom decided he wanted to try news and made the jump to be the anchor for KWGN's morning show, making his mark with that dry sense of humor and quick wit that sets the show apart. He is excellent with breaking news. He's the person you want at the desk when news is unfolding, and there's no time to write it. He has the ability to interpret the pictures and new information and deliver it on the air with perfect tone, pacing, and most of all, to be calm and organized with it the whole time.

Tom has a unique connection with viewers. He is one of the most recognizable and likable people on Denver TV. He has great respect for the viewer, reminding us often that the work we do is for them, that it's a privilege that people invite him and our show into their homes. He reminds us that our relationships with viewers should be respected.

While Tom is a serious newsman, many viewers and co-workers know him for his quick wit and smart-alecky sense of humor. It's what many viewers know him best for, always being there for a smart laugh. And he transitions from news to humor and back to news so easily and flawlessly; it just feels so natural and comfortable. Tom is simply a pleasure to watch.

Tom has given his heart and soul to covering sports and news in Denver for the past 32 years. He's part of the fabric here. There is no doubt that Tom has made a great contribution to the broadcast industry in Denver, both in sports and news: he is the ultimate newsroom quarterback – a leader with talent beyond measure with a humble nature. He guides young newsroom employees, teaching while cracking a joke that lightens every meeting.

Silver Circle Honoree

John Kuhrt

There are a few people who embody what it means to be a television professional more than John Kuhrt. This is interesting given the fact that John was actually a music major at the University of Denver, graduating in 1981. But when he started working at Channel 9 in 1983, it was clear that video became John's art form.

His Heartland Emmy^® Awards alone are startling: 39, beginning with the chapter's first year in 1987. He is a sports photographer and editor, gifted in both of these respects. During the football season, John produces whole programs that involve the work of only a few people, like Sideline Stories with Jim Saccomano, Broncos Tonight, and the Broncos Huddle. He is a photographer and editing machine who can edit long-form segments with effects and music. He's been involved with coverage of seven Broncos Super Bowls from 1987 to 2016.

We are a nation obsessed with "Super Star Athletes." We know them by one name only – Elway, Manning, Brady, LeBron, Jeter, and so on. At 9News and at the Denver Broncos, just one journalist has earned that status: his name is Johnny – even though his official security ID reads John Kuhrt.

Johnny is a Superstar in every way possible, in everything he touches. He is passionate, devoted, creative, tireless, fiercely competitive, and demanding of excellence. He has made a sport of photojournalism, editing, and storytelling. He is our MVP.

Johnny shows his unique skills in countless ways. Watch him shoot a Broncos game, and you will see his athleticism on display and his knowledge of the game. Like a coach, he can sense where the game is going and where the action will be within seconds. Johnny's passion for his work is only surpassed by his pursuit of perfection. Just like the athlete who shows up hours before the rest of the team or stays late watching film, Johnny puts in many, many extra hours to shoot, edit, or gather one more element for a story or a special project.

Covering a team like the Broncos is intensively competitive in this media market with an on-site crowd of more than 50 local reporters and frequent national visitors. John's unmatched work ethic and positive demeanor in this very demanding environment have earned the praise of his co-workers, competitors, and many members of the Broncos team.

In addition to working with the Broncos, John has easily covered at least 250 University of Colorado sporting events, mainly football and basketball. If you add up the total for Colorado's professional and collegiate teams, he has covered over 3,000 games.

John is known for his talent and dedication, someone who truly cares about his work, whether it's standing on the sidelines in cold weather, negotiating space on a crowded basketball floor, or arriving an hour ahead of a photoshoot to set the background so the mood for the piece will be just right. He has always been accommodating and easy to work with, and one you hope is assigned to your story.

John is very talented and able to bring stories to life and make them have the greatest impact. In addition, he is extremely kind and considerate to those he works with on stories. John is relentless and focused on producing excellent television, but whether he's working with people going through difficult medical problems or highly paid professional athletes, he treats everyone with the same kind of professionalism and respect.

He practices his craft with integrity and honesty. When he does a story about a person , he genuinely cares about them, and it shows in his work. He can't and won't do anything less than his best because he doesn't want to let them or the viewer down. If there is a trust issue right now in journalism, it is not because of John Kuhrt. He represents the standard by which we all ought to be measured.

Silver Circle Honoree

Tim Dietz

Forty two years. From film to video tape; analog to digital; broadcast to online; desktop to mobile. During his extraordinary 42 year (and counting) career, Tim Dietz has been at the center of every revolution in our industry, quietly influencing how generations of Coloradoans receive and enjoy news, entertainment and sports programming.

Tim’s contributions began as a news photographer, working with 16 millimeter film and evolved to Tim’s current position as KUSA’s vice president of interactive services, a key station leadership position overseeing a variety of TEGNA and KUSA projects including ever more important digital platforms like 9NEWS.com and 9NEWS mobile.

Tim joined the 9NEWS family in July 1974, when Channel 9 was still KBTV. At the time he was a junior at Regis University and came to 9NEWS as an intern. The internship was supposed to last a year, but somehow, Tim talked his way into two, and then another 40.

Tim has done it all. He has met five U.S. Presidents and countless star athletes and celebrities. He met Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day in Colorado in 1993. KUSA’s coverage of that historic event garnered national attention. He has been to four Super Bowls and is the Denver Broncos programming guru. Beginning with the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, Tim has covered nine Olympic Games by organizing for 9NEWS and Gannet (now TEGNA) coverage in Sydney (2000) Salt Lake City (2002) Athens (2004) Torino (2006) Beijing (2008) Vancouver (2010) London (2012) and Sochi (2014). He is currently planning coverage for Rio de Janeiro 2016. Tim’s commitment to this project is largely responsible for the extraordinary level of coverage viewers in Colorado have come to expect.

In the mid-90s Tim was responsible for launching 9NEWS.com, the state’s local news and information website. Today that platform and a few new ones that Tim oversees deliver over 50 million impressions monthly. At the time this was seen as a distraction, but Tim championed the online importance and as we all know it has become the preferred way that many of us get our information, when , where and how we want it. The technological change and workflow that have overwhelmed many an organization were simply just another obstacle that Tim so adroitly navigated. He helped to launch and pioneer HD Television putting the first HD Helicopter in the air in the early 2000s.

Silver Circle Honoree

Cindy Klose

Cindy Klose Cindy Klose has been a news anchor at KWCH-12 Wichita, KS for 25 years, a former anchor for CNN Headline News, and a reporter/anchor for almost 40 years. She is a staple in the Wichita market. Viewers have voted her Wichita's favorite anchor time and time again for good reason. They trust her. Credibility is more important to Cindy than anything else. It's something she won't compromise in the newsroom, on the set, or with her storytelling.

Although Cindy is in front of the camera each night, she believes the role of the journalist is to be behind the scenes, asking the questions, checking the facts, and holding people accountable. She doesn't believe journalists should be the focus of any story. She teaches the newsroom that journalists are there to inform viewers of how things will impact them, so viewers can make informed decisions.

In the newsroom, Cindy is an advocate for the viewer. She is not afraid to go against what's popular or what some consider "good TV". She believes in putting the viewer first, making sure the newsroom selects stories that impact the residents of Kansas. In return, the viewers trust her. The ratings show how much the viewers trust Cindy. Every show she anchors is number one in household ratings.

Throughout her career, and particularly her time with SBI, Cindy has helped develop many broadcast journalists who now work across the country. She has been a mentor to countless producers and reporters over the years. She is honorable, hardworking, and mindful of her role in our community and our democracy. She is an educator to everyone in the newsroom and across the station. Cindy pushes everyone around her to be a better journalist and to serve the public.

Cindy has helped with numerous non-profit organizations. She has given her time as the Master of Ceremonies for the Susan G. Komen Race and the American Heart Association – Go Red for Women initiative. Cindy has visited hundreds of classrooms, reading to elementary children or speaking about the importance of journalism to high school and college classes. She uses her powerful voice in support of the Fundamental Learning Center and the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County.

The Silver Circle welcomes a top-rated anchor, journalist, and mentor.

Silver Circle Honoree

Mike Nelson

Mike Nelson's 40-year career in the meteorology industry is a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has spent 25 of those years as Colorado's most trusted meteorologist, establishing himself as a pillar of the community. Mike's interest in weather began at a young age in Madison, Wisconsin, and he started his professional journey with Weather Central and WKOW TV in 1976. In 1981, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Meteorology and married his wife, Cindy, shortly after. During his time at Weather Central, Mike worked closely with Terry Kelly, a visionary who developed one of the first weather computer systems for television. Mike played an active role in the development of early weather computers, delivering systems and training meteorologists across the nation. Notable meteorologists like Al Roker, Harry Volkman, Stormy Rottman, and Gary England are among the many individuals Mike Nelson trained on their first weather computers.

From 1979 to 1985, Mike served as an on-air meteorologist at WKOW. In mid-1985, he became the Chief Meteorologist at KMOX TV and Radio in St. Louis, Missouri, at the age of 27. When KMOX was later sold and became KMOV TV, Mike continued his work there until 1991 when he was hired by KUSA in Denver.

Mike spent 13 years as the Chief Meteorologist at KUSA until he received an opportunity from KMGH to transform the Denver weather landscape. In 2004, he accepted the job at Denver7 and has since been dedicated to innovating and improving on-air weather coverage.

In addition to his on-air responsibilities, Mike is actively involved in community engagement. He delivers at least one school presentation per week and participates in numerous weekend charity events throughout the year. One of his passions is educating children about severe storms, climate change, and alleviating the fears of students afraid of tornadoes. Over the course of his career, Mike has visited nearly 4,000 schools, inspiring almost 1.2 million children to develop an interest in math, science, and potentially pursue careers in meteorology or journalism.

As a mentor, Mike has played a crucial role in educating his interns, co-workers, and visitors, providing daily guidance and sharing his wealth of knowledge. He has also hosted over 500 station tours over the past four decades. Mike is a strong supporter of the college weather internship program and has trained more than 30 meteorologists who are now working at TV stations across the nation.

After his remarkable 40-year career, Mike Nelson has been recognized with numerous awards. He has received 18 Emmy^® awards for his outstanding contributions in the field of meteorology and was honored with the "Colorado Broadcaster of the Year" award by the Colorado Broadcasters Association. One of his most cherished achievements is being named the "Broadcast Meteorologist of the Year" by the National Weather Association (NWA) in 2010.

Mike Nelson's impact on the meteorology industry, his commitment to community engagement, and his dedication to mentoring aspiring meteorologists have solidified his reputation as a trusted and respected figure in Colorado and beyond.

Silver Circle Honoree

Susan Peters

Susan Peters has been a news anchor at KAKE-TV in Wichita for almost thirty years and a news broadcaster for almost forty. More than a journalist, Susan sees local television as a way to help people, specifically children and seniors, and uses her considerable talent and reach to speak for those who cannot. She engages viewers by talking with them as if she were in their living room; night after night, her captivating smile and personable manner convey a kinship with her viewers. She connects with her community.

From her Susan’s Kids franchise to her monthly reports on Kids Needing Adoption, Susan has been a strong advocate for Kansas children in foster care, educating tens of thousands of viewers about the pressing needs of this vulnerable population, planting the seed that they, too, might consider adopting a child. For many years, she has laid the foundation for numerous 'forever families,' and the results have led to life-changing matches for the children.

Susan is the face of KAKE’s Reading Caravan campaign; every month, she travels to a school in the area to spend time with students – even reading them a story, often in costume. Her volunteer work extends to the Children’s Hospital, Salvation Army, Futures for Adolescents, March of Dimes, Leukemia Society, and the Center for Children. She regularly offers a home-cooked Italian meal at various silent auctions.

For the past five or six years, the local chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association and Senior Services, Inc. have welcomed Susan’s enthusiastic support. She's interviewed caregivers, served as a Celebrity Walk Chair, and helped organize the annual fundraising roast – including the creation of entertaining videos and skits for the event.

Susan has bowled, been roasted, interviewed children in need of a family, hosted telethons, comforted parents of sick children, and caroled-for-a-cause in single-digit temperatures. She uses her talent on-air to introduce individuals needing a little help from their neighbors. Thanks to her leadership, the community responds.

Silver Circle Honoree

Andy Schaeffer

Skilled professional in all forms of photography, both still and video, and non-linear video editing. Director of Photography, writer, editor, producer, dog handler, talent wrangler, friend to Governors, Hawaiian shirt wearer, professional braggart, and aspiring lottery winner.

These lines from Andy’s resume are unique, funny, wry, accurate … and just as comprehensively incomplete. For almost 40 years, he worked in the TV business in the Heartland region, and while his work garnered recognition and awards almost past counting, it’s his amazing attitude that leaves the largest legacy.

Since 1989, he was a fixture at KUSA Denver’s creative services department, with a talent that touched 85% of that station’s promotional advertising and produced hundreds of television spots. Instantly recognizable by his attire – shorts and Hawaiian shirts every day of the year – he said ‘hi’ to everyone and could often be found sharing technology, taking a novice photographer under his wing, or making a mid-afternoon coffee run. He embraced his work with curiosity and cleverness, frequently building by hand the specific prop he needed for a shoot. During his career, he worked with a Who’s Who of athletes, politicians, and movie stars.

Andy exuded positivity, creativity, and enthusiasm. The people he worked with, whether in front of or behind the camera, whether a fellow professional or a member of the community, came away with a smile and a sense that great things were possible. He took the mystery and anxiety out of the process, laughed and made friends, and had fun. He had a way with talent: making them feel as if this moment right now was the most delightful place to work – it was his signature modus operandi. He was the consummate ambassador for our industry.

His love for Colorado is well-known, and not just by the two Governors who have officially recognized him; Andy gave his time and resources generously to Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, promoting the care of natural resources. His spare time and energy were taken up with his beloved family, his two dogs, and his backcountry escape, Chez Fir.

Silver Circle Honoree

Pat Woodard

From his first job in Hastings, Nebraska, back in 1973 to the last 25 years here in Denver, Pat Woodard’s career in broadcasting is extensive.

Pat tells stories, lots of them, and he’s really, really good at it. From his many years as a reporter, first at KOMO in Seattle and then at KMGH in Denver, he perfected what was then a new way of filing reports: logging every bit of audio and video and writing a script which allowed natural sound and pictures to convey more information – and more eloquently – than the standard interview had ever done. He earned a reputation in the newsroom with the photography staff, who would jockey with the assignment desk to work with Pat; he made them look good, too. He brings that style to his documentary production as well; his scripts are an exercise in minimalism, with less speaking and more of the other stuff – the people that have stories to tell, and the places and history that are their backdrops.

His career has taken him all over the world, as a local news reporter, with HDNet, the National Geographic Channel, and now in his freelance efforts. In over 40 years in broadcasting, he’s seen and done it all and worked with photographers and crew who respect and admire his passion. Pat’s gift for storytelling, combined with this passion, has never known the boundaries of a job description. Many of his projects over the years have been completed on his own time, pro bono: commemorating the 29th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War; highlighting the work of Colorado orthopedic surgeons in Ukraine; humanitarian work in Chile, Haiti, and with the Susan G. Komen foundation. Recently he contributed his talents for other not-for-profit ventures: V-Day 11.11.11 to honor military veterans, and Droughtland, which spotlights the struggle of farmers and ranchers in Southeastern Colorado.

Where, then, does he also find the time to teach and mentor? Pat’s well-known at the NPPA for his work with the Advanced Team Storytelling Workshop and for his seminars in conjunction with the RTNDA, individual television stations, international news networks, and university journalism students. He’s been honored with over 100 awards over the years, including Edward R. Murrow and Emmy^® recognition. In the words of his peers, Pat is a Master Storyteller.

Silver Circle Honoree

John Goheen

To say that John Goheen is an award-winning photojournalist, a pioneer in the industry, a visionary producer, and a gifted storyteller is simply a warm-up exercise in describing a man whose work continues to awe and inspire us. The best video journalists in the country want his way with a camera, news outlets clamor for his features, students choose an independent study so they can continue learning from him after they've taken all his classes, and people around the world in tragic circumstances have seen their lives become just a little less bleak because John has brought their story to light. For 37 years, he's been shaping the way video communicates, in news, programs, films, and in the classroom. "I just like strong visuals, always have," he says.

John has been a resident of Denver since 1977 when he was a reporter/photographer with KMGH Channel 7; he's been freelancing, speaking, and teaching since 1993. He was the NPPA's Television News Photographer of the Year for three consecutive years, has earned 12 regional Emmy^® awards – including Journalistic Enterprise – and is the recipient of the Joseph A. Sprague Memorial Award, the highest honor in the field of journalism. He is reputed to be the King of Nat Sound. Name a network or news organization, and he's worked with them; name a major story, and he's been on the scene, in 85 countries and 6 continents; and he's produced award-winning documentaries. Back in 1997, John helped create the NPPA's Advanced StoryTelling Workshop, and since then, he's never missed it, donating a week of his time each year to work with the students. Currently, he is a full-time instructor at Loyola University's School of Communications in Chicago.

John understands the power of television to do good and change lives; he's not just a journalist, he's a human being who cares about people. His stories typify a sense of social consciousness and responsibility. He volunteered years of his time on a project to honor veterans, soliciting video from around the country to craft a program called 'V-Day 11/11/11.' He took a solo trip to Somalia to help focus attention on the horrendous conditions there, and his stories were the first to air on US network television. Last year he traveled to Kiberia, the largest slum in Africa, to tell a heartbreaking story of poverty through the eyes of the young. His work often points the way for humanitarians to follow and for viewers to become involved. Decades of work, thousands of stories, and millions of lives touched: John is a treasure.

Silver Circle Honoree

Mike LeClaire

Mike LeClaire is a former Gunnery Sergeant in the US Marine Corps with decorated combat service in Vietnam. In 1971, he was fresh out of the hospital after contracting malaria while serving as a forward observer for the artillery and got himself a job as a janitor with a local TV station known then as KLZ. Today, he is the Assistant Chief Photographer at Channel 7 in Denver. In forty-three years, Mike has – as he says – 'worked at many different television stations but they've all been in this building.' Through tenacity, hard work, overwhelming odds, and a commitment to service, Mike has made a profound and lasting impression in journalism.

He has done so much: floor director, studio camera, producer/director, programs, newscasts, PSAs, telethons, community affairs. Then, after almost 20 years, he was laid off with a number of other employees – only to return three months later as a news editor. On his own time, he learned the ins and outs of videography, arranging a trip back to Vietnam (on his own time and his own dime) to create an Emmy^® award-winning documentary that also got him a spot as a staff photographer. He's traveled a lot since then, and always with a camera: following surgeons from Children's Hospital to the Ukraine; taking WWII vets back to Iwo Jima 50 years after the battle; a humanitarian mission to Afghanistan for a food drop from 35,000 feet; accompanying other WWII vets to Okinawa. This, plus the major news stories of the last twenty years. He believes in the power of the images he creates, adapting to new realities and striving to become a proficient conduit for the stories that put life in perspective. Along the way, he's been recognized by the NPPA, the CBA, and NATAS with numerous industry awards.

It's when Mike puts down the camera that his determination and true character emerge. For many years, he and his wife, Andrea, have been actively involved at St. Luke's Episcopal Church where he teaches children's classes and gives his time. He spent 14 years in the Marine Corps Reserve. He volunteers with his son's Boy Scout Troop. He has donated his professional and personal time to the Heroes Forever organization, which provides support to pediatric cancer patients and their families. He is the proud father of twins, Ben and Amy, and a devoted husband. He is authentic, compassionate, dedicated, and the embodiment of integrity and commitment.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ken Miller

Many years ago, a starting shortstop with Fort Hays State University decided to maximize his Communications degree with an internship running tape in a truck, and a potential MLB career gave way to one in televised sports; Ken Miller hit that one out of the park. Currently the Executive Producer at ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain, Ken began working in the Heartland region 29 years ago and, in the last quarter-century, has directed more than 3,000 live sports and entertainment events around the globe. In the process, he has earned 16 Regional Emmy^® Awards for Producing and Directing, a Cable Ace Award, and the respect and admiration of his peers.

There is hardly a sport Ken doesn't know: college football, basketball, hockey, and baseball; boxing and rodeo; Sunday night football, Monday night football, the SuperBowl, the Masters, and the Olympics – to name a few. And let's not forget his extensive work with the Colorado Rockies and Avalanche, the Denver Nuggets and Broncos. Ken spent many years as a freelance camera operator covering games nationally before moving into the director's chair and finally the producer's. Nowadays he manages a schedule, a budget, and a staff for roughly 200 events a year. He is regarded as a gifted director and a thoughtful, experienced leader who always has the viewer's best interest in mind.

Ken is known for having a keen eye for talent. He searches out and mentors both experienced and up-and-coming announcers, producers, and directors, many of whom have gone on to national networks. He guides and encourages this next generation with passion, kindness, and a shared love of the game. He builds trust, not only with his co-workers but also with the network's team partners. These constructive relationships, along with Ken's advocacy of technological advancement, have resulted in enhanced production and more exclusive content, to give each and every fan the best seat in the house.

On or off the field, Ken exemplifies 'Team' to everyone with whom he works: he is involved, dedicated, and caring; innovative and intelligent. An MVP, first and last.

Silver Circle Honoree

Greg Moody

No one can argue that Greg Moody’s name is synonymous with arts and entertainment coverage in Denver. Since 1986, he's been the Critic at Large, first with KUSA beginning in 1986, then at KCNC from 1988 to 2014. And since his broadcasting career originated in Milwaukee in 1981, he’s been ‘in the business’ for over thirty years. Greg is the one with an encyclopedic knowledge of plays, movies, musicals, and music, and a vast understanding of things behind the scenes as well as an appreciation of a patron’s unique perspective in the audience. His ability to combine these is his talent: Greg makes art and entertainment compelling for everyone else by using his self-deprecating sense of humor and his gift of storytelling to translate theater, ballet, and opera into a language that viewers understand and appreciate. How many small productions or children’s programs or gallery openings might have gone overlooked if not for his attention? How many zoo events, film festival premieres, concerts, and local hidden gems might we have missed if not for Greg’s notice? As the arts community in the Denver metro area expanded (exploded) over the last decades, Greg Moody has been here to raise awareness and enjoyment of all the things there are to do and see.

From 1999 to 2004, Greg produced a weekly arts and entertainment roundup called 'SHOW,' which shot on location in places such as the Art Museum or the DCPA, the Circus, Ocean Journey, or Wings over the Rockies. Greg put his heart – and his theater background – into every story with passion and enthusiasm. His flexibility and renowned deft turn of word enabled a fluid segue between a review of the Colorado Symphony and a description of the opening act for a heavy metal band at the Pepsi Center. And well before the term 'backpack journalist' was being tossed around as the latest new thing, Greg has been an experienced editor for over 15 years – writing and editing his daily features plus multiple segments for SHOW. An avid cyclist, Greg covered Ride the Rockies for years using his personal cycling knowledge to provide viewers with an insider’s perspective.

Greg is known for enthusiastically jumping into the station’s community service activities, for his sense of humor and incredible work ethic, and for his thoughtful commentaries even when reviewing a 'clunker.' He knows everyone who’s anyone in the local arts scene, and they know and respect him. Greg exemplifies the best in broadcasting: a journalist who is not only a participating member of the community but also a beloved friend and esteemed co-worker.

Now, get out there and have some fun!

Silver Circle Honoree

Anne Trujillo

This year marks Anne’s thirtieth anniversary with KMGH Channel 7 in Denver, and with earlier stints at KSTF in Scottsbluff and KMTV in Omaha, it's her thirty-second year in the Heartland region. She started out as a general assignment reporter and worked her way to the anchor desk, where her unassuming confidence and breadth of experience touch viewers and coworkers with equal impact. She is at home in the studio or field, anchoring from a wildfire, a flash flood, or from the Freedom Tower. She’s the type of news anchor who will readily write a simple VO for the nightly newscast or do ‘the big interview’ as a special project, leading by example. Anne is a Coloradan ‘by choice,’ a graduate of Littleton High School and CU Boulder, whose love for this state and its residents is evident on and off the camera.

Children’s and women’s issues are important to Anne. She has served as a board member for numerous organizations, including the Mi Casa Resource Center for Women and Girls, the Board of Hispanic Heroes, the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation, and the Latin American Education Foundation. She supports Centro San Juan Diego, Escuela De Guadalupe, and the American Diabetes Association and St. Vincent Home with her time and energy. In addition, she has been honored with awards and recognition from not only a variety of press and media associations (including NATAS), but also from a plethora of non-profit associations who recognize her ability – and willingness – to make a profound difference. Anne is a community leader, devoting hours of service to organizations that lift up the less fortunate, invest in the underprivileged, and work to ensure equality for those whose voices aren’t represented. Throughout the state, Anne shines.

Anne lives in the town in which she grew up and lights the city’s Christmas tree on Main Street every year during the annual holiday lighting ceremony. She met her husband, Mike, while the two worked together at 7News; they are the proud parents of two grown children.

Silver Circle Honoree

Adele Arakawa

Adele jumped into broadcasting at age 16 as a radio disc jockey and anchor in Tennessee, her home state. She was the first female DJ in Knoxville, working a Top 40 format for 5 years. She made the transition to television news in 1981, first in Knoxville, then in Raleigh, and then in Chicago at WBBM. In 1993, Adele came to Denver and KUSA, where she’s anchored the weekday evening newscast for nearly 18 years, working with co-anchors Ed Sardella, Jim Benneman, Bob Kendrick, and now Mark Koebrich. A recipient of 7 regional Emmy^® awards, Adele sets the standard in the newsroom for pure ethics, strong writing, and great storytelling. She is known for fairness, for getting the whole story, and for her relentless and thorough fact-checking. She has made it her business, both on-camera and off, to give a voice to those who find themselves with just cause but no hero.

Over the years, Adele has made it a priority to serve meals to the homeless through the Denver Rescue Mission’s Great Thanksgiving and Christmas Banquets. For 18 years, Adele has volunteered her time with the Capuchin Franciscans, who value her professionalism and her humanity working with the friars and their ministries. For over a decade, she has worked with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and with the Morgan Adams Foundation, which funds research into the causes and treatment of pediatric cancer. She’s been known to bring her family along for a long day in the cold, unloading truck beds for the 9Cares-Colorado Shares food, clothing, and toy drive. Adele is a member of the Japanese American Citizens League and the Japanese American Service Committee, and is a past-president of the Asian American Journalists Association.

Adele and her husband, Barry, have been married for 35 years. They have two grown children. Adele and her husband are avid golfers, and the entire family enjoys racing cars. In fact, Adele holds a Club Racing license with PCA and is a certified instructor for the Rocky Mountain Region Porsche Club and the Colorado Exoticar Association. She has raced in venues from the Daytona International Speedway to the Pikes Peak International Raceway to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Silver Circle Honoree

Cynthia Hessin

A love of words and language has defined Cynthia since grade school, where writing became her passion. With a degree in journalism, she got her foot in the door as a receptionist at KBOL radio and was asked to 'try' reading copy. From there, she moved to KHOW radio in Denver, handling drive-time newscasts for two years. When KOA-TV asked her to do on-camera cut-ins for The Today Show, a television career was born. Cynthia joined KCNC in 1979 as a reporter, fill-in anchor, and host before moving to KMGH in 1984. For 11 years, she worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer, excelling in covering stories involving politics, government, and public policy. A profound shift in her career came in 1995 with a move to Rocky Mountain PBS, where she became the station's sole executive producer responsible for creating original programming for a statewide network. She currently holds the position of Executive Producer, Public Affairs, and hosts the weekly series Colorado State of Mind.

Cynthia is the recipient of 5 regional Emmy^® awards, ranging from News reporting to Narration to Documentary, which is a testament to her versatility. She has served on the Heartland Chapter Board of Governors as 1st VP and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Denver Press Club, including past president (the first female!). She also serves on the regional board of the Society of Professional Journalists. Cynthia generously volunteers her time to community and industry events and is a regular member of the Press Club's annual Gridiron Show.

While her list of awards and accolades is long, Cynthia's peers and coworkers commend her team spirit and can-do attitude. No matter how the industry changes, she is always willing to learn something new. Whether she's producing a special about women's issues, water rights, immigrants, or local philanthropists, everyone knows that Cynthia will put her energy and heart into every project. Cynthia considers it a privilege and a huge responsibility to pass along information, and she's known for going to great lengths to get it right. In fact, three Governors of the state of Colorado enthusiastically attest to her fair and balanced work, her understanding of critical issues and their impact on people in the state, and her integrity as a journalist. She is an outstanding example of what journalism should be.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ken Siemek

Nebraska is a state whose residents depend on the weather for their livelihood, and Ken is the guy who has been there for them at all hours of the day and night for over 30 years. He's the guy who never tires of shaking hands with countless viewers and perfect strangers, who mentors the new kids in the newsroom, and who can talk about meteorology to a class of elementary school children. Ken can't get out in the community without being mobbed, yet he uses his celebrity status on behalf of charitable events and causes to the extent that legends grow up around him. Stories circulate about how they had to conclude a holiday coat drive a week early because they'd already doubled the goal, how Ken grabbed the mic at a charity auction to make it their most successful in over 100 years, and how he started a tradition with an ad-libbed Husker poem full of funny and cheesy one-liners. His blend of humility, friendliness, wit, and hard work has earned a level of trust most can only imagine. From the Governor's office to the most remote town in the state, Nebraskans describe Ken: He's one of us!

Ken Siemek began his illustrious career as a college intern at KOLN/KGIN in Lincoln, known as 10/11, back in 1980. He describes his duties then as taking out the trash and sweeping the studio after the 10 PM newscast. A year later, he was hired as a videographer and jack-of-all-trades, eventually moving into the weekend weather announcer position. Although his hopes of becoming a Sports Guy were dashed, Ken had found his calling. In 1986, he was named Chief Meteorologist and has since earned his seal from the American Meteorological Society. What may be most remarkable about his career is that he has never gone looking for greener pastures. Instead, he has dedicated himself to making his station, his community, and his state better places to work and live. During a surprise 30th anniversary newscast, Ken had this to say, "A day never goes by that I don't think about how lucky I am to be able to do what I've done for 30 years. It has been an honor, a pleasure, and a privilege."

In addition to his work as a meteorologist, Ken is a member of the Lancaster County Emergency Planning Commission and has served on numerous community-based boards. He has volunteered at Nebraska schools as an athletics coach, and has dedicated countless hours to charity events and fundraisers, including People's City Mission, Can-Care-a-Van, Regional Food Banks, Salvation Army, Nebraska Sports Council, Juvenile Diabetes Association, Goodwill, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Lincoln Children's Museum, and many more. In 1992, Ken married Deb Collins, the station's first female evening news anchor, and they have a son named Parker.

Silver Circle Honoree

Kim Christiansen

That kind woman who anchors the 4 & 9 PM news on KUSA, the one who gets tears in her eyes reporting a difficult story, and who sounds so genuinely happy when the story's a positive one? That's Kim: she loves her job, and it shows. She cares, and it shows. She is devoted to her community, and it shows.

Kim is not only a Colorado native, but she's never lived outside the state. And she has only ever worked at one place: KUSA 9News in Denver. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Kim started work in 1985 as a behind-the-scenes news writer. She crafted stories for air for almost 4 years before becoming a reporter, which may be one of the reasons that her co-workers still look for those "Kim Stories" in the lineup. Kim moved from writer to producer, to reporter, and now, a respected anchor. She always has a long list of story ideas and is a leader in the newsroom. In this age of fast-moving technology, Kim is known for her handwritten notes, her empathy, and her kind spirit.

Kim has a unique bond with her viewers, both on and off the air. She has covered many of the headline-inducing tragedies over the last quarter-century and still checks-in with the families that she interviewed; they trust her. She also covers stories about individuals facing difficult circumstances, especially kids: she remembers their names years later. A local children's hospital will turn to Kim first when they have a particularly tender story to share; they trust her. Kim may get a little emotional in front of the camera, but it comes from her heart – and that's her connection.

Volunteering is important to Kim, and she is very active as a spokesperson and advocate for breast cancer research and awareness. She has been passionate about this cause for 20 years, back when the Race for the Cure, and Komen, were in their infancy. She dedicates hundreds of hours a year to volunteering in the community and is happy to lend her talent and name to motivate others to help.

An award-winning journalist and former Miss Colorado, Kim will tell you that her most important job is being a mom to her son, Tanner. She is also a proud daughter, sister, and wife and enjoys spending time with her family — here in her Colorado.

Silver Circle Honoree

Kathy Walsh

Katherine Mary Frances Walsh Flynn grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, in an environment where hard work, honesty, and personal integrity were a way of life – and it is these characteristics that define Kathy's approach to every story she covers. She earns the respect of the news photographer staff by always doing her research before heading to the site. Her interview style is to put people at ease and let them talk. She isn't intimidated easily, but she is kind. Her communication skills are the stuff of legend – from her insistence on perfect grammar and punctuation to her ability to change the inflection and tone of her voice to bring out the nuances of a story. She is a master at distilling complicated subject matter into an easily understandable form.

Kathy has been in the broadcasting business since graduating from the University of Delaware, with her first job in Bangor, Maine, as a reporter/anchor. Reporter gigs in Nashville and Detroit followed before she landed at KCNC in 1984, where she currently co-anchors the weekend newscast and is a general assignment reporter. Kathy is "old school" journalism, representing the business with class both on and off-camera; she cares about her profession and keeps her eye on the details. She serves as a mentor to the younger reporters and has earned the respect of her peers. Kathy is adept at covering stories related to health and medical issues, and doctors love working with her; they know she'll represent the truth, and always with compassion. She tries, in all her stories, to find the best in people and provide hope, to leave her viewers with something worth learning.

For almost 30 years, Kathy has volunteered her talents with and for Craig Hospital, specializing in the rehabilitation of adults with catastrophic injuries. She is an advocate for the Muscular Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis organizations, and for the United Way and Children's Hospital among others. Kathy is an award-winning, hard-working journalist who has also managed to raise two beautiful daughters. And recently, at a time when most parents are dealing with empty-nest issues, Kathy and her husband, Bob, took on the full-time care of their young nephew, whose parents had just passed away.

Genuine. Authentic. Real. Handles challenges with grace. Trustworthy. Good friend. Wise woman. Caring mom. Consummate professional. And Kathy has a weak spot for animals; when it comes to injured or rescued animals needing help, she gets the call … even if it's just a pudgy pet needing exercise!

Silver Circle Honoree

Allan Bisset

No bio available at this time.

Silver Circle Honoree

Bob Burke

No bio available at this time.

Silver Circle Honoree

Gary Shapiro

No bio available at this time.

Silver Circle Honoree

Donna Sanford

Before there was Sesame Street on PBS, there was Donna Sanford. From 1969 onward, Donna has devoted her entire career to public television on both the local and national levels. As a college grad in Richmond, Virginia, she got her first job at WCVE, working in production, then in programming. She moved to Denver in 1989 and currently serves as Director of Programming and Production for Rocky Mountain PBS, a state-wide network. She has been instrumental in the transformation from the early days of educational television to today's high-definition, digital, multi-channel broadcasts.

Donna understands the importance of networking, mentoring, and leadership and serves as a model for other women in Colorado broadcasting who manage positions of increased challenge and responsibility. She is a past-president of the Public Television Programmers Association and a recipient of their Programmer of the Year award and Golden Grid award. As a member of numerous PBS advisory councils and committees, Donna is a respected voice offering concise evaluation and recommendations that have led to stronger programming and streamlined procedures.

Colleagues around the country enjoy her wicked sense of humor, her wealth of experience, her willingness to try new things, and her selfless leadership; she avoids podiums and pedestals but is quick to share her time and expertise for the good of the PBS system. She believes in the PBS mission and is motivated by the strong PBS community.

Locally she is responsible for the programming choices on 5 stations around Colorado, for new productions, and she oversees the award-winning RMPBS production team. In her moments of spare time, Donna enjoys kicking up her heels with the Rocky Mountain Square Dancing Club and volunteering with the Crochet Club for the Denver Health Baby Blanket Initiative.

Silver Circle Honoree

Mitch Jelniker

Mitch Jelniker has served the Heartland region for over 28 years, not only with his dedication to high standards of journalistic integrity on camera and in the newsroom but also with a remarkable commitment to integrity in his relationship with his community. He chooses to be involved, to be engaged, and to value each person as an individual in all his endeavors. His reputation exemplifies the utmost in caring and trust.

A graduate of Colorado State University, Mitch started work at KWTV in Oklahoma City in 1982. He moved back home to Denver in 1995 with KMGH, where he continues in a variety of functions: anchor, reporter, and producer. His body of work includes some of the most horrific news stories in recent history – the Oklahoma City bombing and the subsequent trial coverage, the massacre at Columbine High School, the tragedy at Platte Canyon High School. His desire to report "on the scene" at these events is an illustration of his willingness to be involved, always with accuracy and truth. His coworkers tell of his passion, his breadth of understanding, his leadership, enthusiasm, and sense of humor.

Many viewers know Mitch as the 7Everyday Hero guy. This weekly program highlights someone in the community who volunteers his or her time to make other people's lives a bit brighter. Since its inception in 1999, the 7Everyday Hero award has recognized over 550 deserving individuals, and Mitch hasn't missed a week. He treats each person not as "just another story" but as an opportunity to make a difference.

Volunteering is important to Mitch, and he is known for this – from the Governor's office to non-profit agencies, to neighbors and friends. He donates his free time and support to many of the causes that he covers and isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves to get the work done. He inspires others to do better and give more.

Silver Circle Honoree

Rodolfo Cardenas

A native of Venezuela, Rodolfo Cárdenas began his television career in 1984, producing the first weekly Spanish TV show in Colorado, "My Family," in Windsor. He moved on to be the News Director/Anchor of KUBD Channel 59, a Telemundo affiliate, and he also translated the evening news on KCNC at 6:30 in simulcast. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado.

In 1995, Rodolfo created the KCEC (Univision) news department in Denver, where he was the News Director and Anchor for almost 14 years. He was recognized as the first Hispanic journalist Broadcaster of the Year by the CBA in 2003. Highlighting his outstanding career are exclusive interviews with two Presidents of the United States, a vast number of North American and Latin American politicians, and celebrated members of the entertainment world. He has been recognized as a true role model to the Hispanic Youth for his successful and dedicated efforts on their behalf and is the recipient of awards from the Hispanic Salute Organization and Escuela Tlatelolco.

He is a regular speaker at Denver area high schools to help promote the future of Hispanic students in Colorado and years ago established the "Hispanic Student of the Month" program, which features outstanding Latino students and provides scholarships. He initiated the project, "Periodistas de Manana," to motivate Hispanic students to stay in school and pursue careers in journalism. He is a highly dedicated professional who uses his expertise and knowledge to educate and motivate. His peers speak of him as a person of high integrity whose good name and responsible work ethic provide an invaluable service to the community. In 2007, Rodolfo received the "Community Service Volunteer Award" from the Hispanic Annual Salute for his many charitable efforts.

Rodolfo has worked hard to maintain the highest journalistic standards in his newsroom and in his newscasts and also to reach out to his viewers in a very human way, to mentor, to serve, and to assist. He is married with two sons.

Silver Circle Honoree

Patti Dennis

We know her as the News Director for 9News in Denver, as a highly respected news professional with a healthy sense of competition and a keen eye for talent, who has helped keep her station at the top of the ratings for decades. She is the definition of relentless hard work, leading by example, and inspiring peers and coworkers with the motivation to exceed their own best efforts.

Patti Dennis grew up in Oklahoma, graduating from the University of Oklahoma, where she likes to point out that she took two years of meteorology – giving her just enough information to be dangerous. She started her broadcast career over 30 years ago at KOCO, as a studio camera operator and weather map-cleaner. From there, she moved to KDFW in Dallas. In 1981, she came to KUSA where her energy and vision, and complete commitment to news, has moved her to the position she now holds: Vice President/News Director.

As both the head of the newsroom and a member of management, Patti's coworkers speak highly of her ability to respond to the challenges faced by the industry today: contracting budgets, shrinking staff, buyouts, furloughs, and emerging technologies. Patti embraces change and continues to lead her organization into the future. She is a graceful and respectful competitor, quick to initiate cooperation among the local news stations when it will serve the greater good.

Her most important job is outside the station, as she and her husband, Tim, raise two teenage-plus daughters. During their school years, she managed her time meticulously, leaving work to attend an important game with them, then rushing back to the newsroom.

A long list of adjectives describes Patti: smart, aggressive, tough, fair, compassionate, creative, ethical, reliable, organized, combined with a seemingly endless supply of energy, and that rare ability to keep a staff of one hundred people headed in the same direction every day. Her legacy also includes a reputation for wise-cracks and snappy comebacks, and a suspicion that her DNA may be made up almost entirely of news genes.

Silver Circle Honoree

Carole Lambert

Since 1982, Carole Lambert has been the co-Anchor of the 6 and 10 PM newscasts for KTUL, making a name for herself not only as a consummate journalist and professional but also as one of the Tulsa community's most treasured assets. Her longstanding efforts on behalf of numerous charitable organizations illustrate the commitment of this newswoman to using her time and talents for the benefit of many.

With a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music (yes, she sings!) and a Master's degree in Mass Communication, Carole left the entertainment world for her first TV job in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1979. She then moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, and later to KFOR in Oklahoma City before landing at KTUL. Her warmth, sincerity, and compassion are the qualities that inspire love and trust in her viewers, and her coworkers admire her strength, integrity, and impeccable character.

Carole's involvement in a long list of projects and organizations comes from her own desire to help, and she leads fundraising drives for non-profit organizations, gives a voice to victim advocacy groups, hosts telethons, and inspires kids in the classroom. She is also a huge advocate of the Tulsa Arts Community, having performed with the Tulsa Symphony. But she may be best known for her advocacy of the "Waiting Child" program, a weekly profile of kids in state custody awaiting adoption. Since Carole began hosting and producing these segments in 1990, over 2,500 children have been featured and placed in adoptive homes. But she is quick to point out that the real heroes are the moms and dads who give these kids a loving home.

Her list of awards is impressive: The Oklahoma Association of Broadcaster's "Hall of Fame," the "Congressional Angel Adoption" award, the Southside Tulsa Sertoma Club's "Service to Mankind" award, the state volunteerism award from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and even "Carole Lambert Day" proclaimed by Governor Frank Keating on November 23, 2000. These are but a few of her recognitions.

So, what does this high-powered woman do to wind down? Just ask Angie, her schnauzer, and Coco, her schnoodle, to describe the pampering they get! Even their wardrobe is impressive: Coco with her red silk kimono, and Angie sporting a denim motorcycle jacket!

Silver Circle Honoree

Mike Landess

Mike Landess won a speech contest in ninth grade, which led to a job at a local radio station and launched his love for broadcasting and a 40+-year career in television. Now the primary evening news anchor at KMGH in Denver, Mike has worked all over the country, from Dallas to Cleveland to Atlanta and Washington, DC. His first landing in Denver brought him to KUSA from 1977-1993, as the co-anchor of the #1-rated evening newscast. Upon moving to Atlanta, he was recognized for his live coverage of the bombing at Centennial Olympic Park. That experience served him well when later, in Washington, DC, he anchored 16 hours of live coverage after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He received Emmy^® awards for News Anchor for both of those bodies of work.

Mike's winning combination of quality reporting, caring for his audience, and being a real person is exemplified in his sharing his personal battle with prostate cancer with viewers, from diagnosis to treatment. Working with the physicians and researchers at CU Denver, and with the Prostate Cancer Education Council, Mike put together a CD to create a one-of-a-kind tool for patient awareness, chronicling his journey through this process. He is relentless in answering questions and emails from viewers, to give them as much information as possible to make their own best decisions.

In Denver, the annual Coats for Colorado campaign distributes thousands of coats to Coloradans in need, and Mike is an integral part of this effort. He attends every event and is the last to leave. He is enthusiastic about spreading the goodwill of strong civic journalism to his community. He believes in a relationship of trust with his viewers and works every day to make that happen.

Silver Circle Honoree

Mike Silva

Mike is an Emmy^® award-winning news helicopter pilot, with over 25,000 incident-and-accident-free flight hours, recipient of the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam, veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, law enforcement professional, Colorado native, devoted husband, and proud father of three. He currently serves with the Colorado Army National Guard in the Homeland Security division, training first-responders. He is being honored here for a 26-year "mission" with KCNC Channel 4 as their Chief Pilot, working for most of that time with David Gregg and Luann Akin – affectionately known as the A-Team.

Mike started flying for TV back in 1978, working for KUSA, KMGH, and KCNC, then exclusively with KCNC in 1983. He earned his second degree at Metro State College in 1989, in Meteorology and Broadcasting, and has covered some of the most memorable news events in recent history. Lots of spectacular tornado footage has come from his 'copter, along with technological achievement in covering many Bolder Boulder events, forest fires, floods, crashes, and chases. A truly excellent media helicopter pilot is more than the guy in the cockpit; he understands news and makes it easy and safe for his crew to see the story, get the story, and show the story to their viewers; Mike knew how to position his "camera platform" to allow for that compelling shot.

Mike was a key contributor in writing the helicopter safety standards that are still followed to this day by NBC/Universal, for all ENG pilots; Mike's work in the field of helicopter news has made it a safer, more professional industry. He remains steadfast in his desire to continue to help, learn, and be the best in his profession. He is the recipient of myriad awards, both civilian and military, for the integrity and honor that he displays in all areas of his life. Commendations from the American Red Cross, President Ronald Reagan, Boy Scouts of America, the Federal Aviation Administration, Catholic Charities of Denver, and the U.S. Army describe Mike as a mentor, a teacher, a hero, and a caring friend.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ernie Bjorkman

They call him the Dean of News Anchors in the Denver market, and at 26 years and counting, the title is well-deserved. Since 1982, he has reported the events – big and small – that make up the evening news. Currently the main anchor at KWGN CW2, Ernie started as a field reporter/anchor for KMGH in Denver and has worked at both stations twice in his career.

Originally from St. Augustine, Florida, Ernie's first job after college was with WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach in 1972, "serving time" as a reporter and photographer. In 1976, he moved his growing family to Atlanta and WSB where he worked as a reporter for 6 years. There he covered Jimmy Carter's rise to the White House and the Atlanta Child Murders. In Denver, he has worked as a reporter, field anchor, main anchor, and managing editor, covering diverse stories such as airline crashes, the Columbine shootings, World Youth Day, the Pope's visit, the Summit of the 8, and the opening of DIA. He has further connected with viewers through features such as "Trading Places" in which he switched roles with trash collectors, donut makers, and the people who change the hockey rink to the basketball court at the Pepsi Center.

Through it all, his genuine interest in people, especially children, shines brightly. He volunteers with Mount St. Vincent home for children, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Boys and Girls Club, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Volunteers of America, and Easter Seals. He also reads to visually-impaired children at the Anchor Center for the Blind.

Married to Susan for 37 years and the father of two grown children, Ernie started Vet Tech school last year so he can open a free spay/neuter clinic in southern Colorado someday.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ward Lucas

In 1973, KIRO-TV in Seattle took a chance and put Ward Lucas on the air as an investigative reporter and weekend anchor. He held that job for two and a half years, eventually winning several reporting awards including an Emmy^® for an investigative story on industrial arson called "Fire for Hire." This got the attention of KBTV (now KUSA) in Denver, and Ward quickly distinguished himself as the top weekend anchor and the only investigative reporter at the station. His strong presentation both on and off the air helped him to get to the information necessary to produce award-winning stories and helped mold the local television market into one of the most competitive relative to tough journalism.

For the past 32 years, Ward has been a well-known and respected face in the Denver market. Today, his video essays are examples of top-notch storytelling and writing. Ward is the recipient of numerous awards for his work in news, investigative journalism, and writing, including 29 Heartland Emmy^® nominations and 11 statues.

Ward was born in Kyoto, Japan, the son of a West Point graduate. His younger brother is also a West Pointer, while his older brother was a Marine Corps officer. In fact, the Lucas family has a long tradition of military service, which is why Ward has focused so much attention during his career on those who serve their country in uniform.

Active in the community, Ward served on the board of the Alzheimer's Association from 1996-2002 and was among the first to bring this disease into the light of public awareness, helping to raise the levels of community education and programs. He has also supported the Denver Dumb Friends League for many years by hosting their Furry Scurry event, and he is a passionate advocate for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Silver Circle Honoree

Suzanne McCarroll

Suzanne McCarroll is a reporter with KCNC CBS4 in Denver, a role she has held for 26 years. But ask anyone, and word comes back that she's not just any reporter: "She has the unique ability to combine assertive, get-the-story focus with sincere respect and compassion for vulnerable individuals who are caught up in a tragedy." "...Believes that journalism is a higher calling and a public service." "...Can go from a murder scene to a children's hospital wing and never miss a beat." "...Always puts the story first." "...Any newscast is better if Suzanne is in it." "...Her talent for listening gets the important interviews." "...No ego."

Starting out as a speechwriter at IBM after college, Suzanne ditched the cushy corporate job for the life of a reporter at KIDK in Idaho Falls in 1979. She says it was the best career decision she ever made. From there, she moved to KCGR in Cedar Rapids in 1980, serving as a reporter and weekend anchor. In 1982, she took a job as an entry-level reporter at KCNC. Co-workers and competitors agree that Suzanne is a journalist whose integrity and thoughtfulness engender respect. In fact, she's taught reporting seminars and ethics seminars at the Poynter Institute.

Through it all, she's just as dependable as a mom as she is as a reporter. While she takes her work seriously, everyone agrees that she'd say her most important job is being a mother – to three wonderful children. She's been able to balance the crazy life of a television reporter with family life and make it look easy — no matter how challenging either became. She's a role model and an example to anyone who wants to "have it all."

Silver Circle Honoree

James Morgese

James Morgese is the President and General Manager of Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver and Grand Junction, Pueblo/Colorado Springs, Durango, and Steamboat Springs. He has been instrumental in growing a local station, KRMA Channel Six (Knowledge for the Rocky Mountain Area), into a network reaching almost 2 million people a week in Colorado. James is a visionary, a community leader, and committed to embracing technology that will enhance the TV:Viewer experience.

His career in public television spans more than 25 years at stations in Florida, Idaho, and Kentucky. Prior to that, he worked in commercial television at both the affiliate (KOA-TV in Denver) and network (NBC New York) level. In 1990, he became the Station Manager for KRMA, then located in the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, and became GM in 1993. Last year, the station celebrated its 50th year of broadcasting. They've been shooting and editing in HD since 2000, have allocated a digital channel exclusively to V-me, a Spanish-language service, and their locally-produced programming regularly wins awards.

James currently serves on the boards of the Mile High Chapter of the American Red Cross; Digital Directions, Inc.; the Denver Convention and Visitor's Bureau Foundation; the WELLS Center at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment; National Datacast, Inc.; and the Public Television Major Markets Group; as well as the honorary board of the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. James taught for 2 years at the Art Institute of Colorado and is a graduate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Denver class of 2000-01. He earned both his BA and MA from the University of Denver. With his wife Annette, James donates his talent for Italian cooking and his "world-famous marinara" in various recipes to local food banks.

Silver Circle Honoree

Luan Akin

Luan Akin is the weekday helicopter reporter for CBS4 in Denver, covering stories ranging from spot-news in nature to assignment reporting, to (her favorite) spectacular weather stories. A Colorado native, she joined KCNC in 1979 as a general assignment reporter and soon began specializing in helicopter reporting. Her colleagues and associates speak of her as a professional broadcast journalist, and it's clear that she loves her work and her "flying TV studio."

But as many lives as have been touched by her work on television, Luan plays a role in several communities that is worthy of recognition. Her love of animals is well-known: she works with the Denver Dumb Friends League, Max Fund, the Bat Conservation Society, and the Delta Society (matching therapy dogs with the people who need them). In addition, the Persian Rescue and the Burro Rescue have a variety of paws and hooves in her home, and she has rescued several goats for the Douglas County 4H group.

Luan has provided the personal and financial commitment to have a well dug at a remote village in Uganda, East Africa, in order to provide sanitary drinking water for orphanage kids there. She gives generously of her time and resources to the Loyola school and the Ronald McDonald House; the state's major universities and college journalism programs know her as a guest speaker and student mentor.

In her spare time, Luan is a Master Gardener and an avid beekeeper. She and her husband, Skip, live in Parker.

Silver Circle Honoree

John Ferrugia

John Ferrugia came to KMGH in 1992, continuing an award-winning career that has taken him from the Great Wall in China to war-torn Beirut to Vatican City. He has experience covering stories involving Prime Ministers, the Pope, and the President, many times on Air Force One. John has been honored with television journalism's most prestigious awards, including the Dupont-Columbia Award, two George Foster Peabody Awards, and a national Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Award.

His investigation into the sexual assaults of female cadets at the US Air Force Academy has brought national recognition, Congressional hearings, and a complete change of leadership at one of the world's most prestigious military institutions.

In 1980, John was a Washington correspondent for CBS News, covering the presidential inauguration of Ronald Reagan. Later, he was named a White House correspondent and traveled with the President, covering the 40th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy and the economic summits in London and Williamsburg. In 1985, he was the principal anchor for "West 57th" news magazine, reporting from around the world to cover issues including the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

John came to Denver in 1989 to anchor the news at KCNC; three years later, he joined KMGH where he developed his signature report: "The Ferrugia File." He has a longstanding and undisputed record of seeking and reporting the truth, of setting the highest journalistic standards, and of personal integrity. He says, "I feel I have an obligation to use my talents in some way to improve the community I work and live in."

Silver Circle Honoree

Don Perez

Don Perez started his career at KUSA in Denver back in March of 1971. Over the years, he has been involved in a number of significant engineering and operational projects. He is known as a leader, a pioneer, and a catalyst for change.

In 1979, he was on the team that installed the station’s first computerized editing system. In the early nineties, he won Gannett’s Herb Schubarth Award for Engineering Achievement for his work in integrating television components into the design and construction of the then-new 9News building at Speer and Logan. When Pope John Paul II visited Denver in 1993 for World Youth Day, Don coordinated the technical operations for the station and was part of the team that created an international pool feed of the four-day event.

The twenty-first century has brought big changes to television, merging I.T., broadcast, and other technologies. During this transition, Don worked closely with various major manufacturers in the development of new products for the TV industry. In fact, one of his largest achievements was making KUSA the third station in the country to switch to high definition television newscasts and helping to design the first HDTV news helicopter. As the Director of Operations and Technology for the station, Don oversaw the entire process, including the station’s digital conversion, the move to non-linear editing, and eventually the first HDTV newscast in Denver. "It was a little like changing the engine of a car while it’s still moving," he says.

In 2006, Don successfully led the technology conversion to operate two stations, KUSA and KTVD, from one building.

Now retired, Don and his wife Carol enjoy traveling, sports cars, and golf.

Silver Circle Honoree

Terri Watkins

There is no question that Terri Watkins has made a significant contribution to broadcasting in Oklahoma. As an investigative journalist, she was always known for professionalism, accuracy, and integrity. She could be trusted. She was tough but fair. She wasn't afraid of anyone. She put in the effort to get the stories right, not just first. She had the reputation of being knowledgeable, conscientious, and dedicated.

Raised in Norman, it all started back in the 70s when Terri first started in journalism as a radio reporter, then she made the jump to television in 1981, joining KOCO in Oklahoma City.

Through the years, Terri has been on two Peabody Award-winning teams, has earned the Edward R. Murrow, Houston, and New York International Film Festival awards for investigative reporting, six Emmy^® award nominations, and numerous AP and Oklahoma Broadcaster Association awards. She has been a member or officer of IRE, the investigative reporter organization, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Sigma Delta Chi, and two-term president of FOI Oklahoma.

She has covered and investigated many major stories, including the Murrah Building Bombing, the subsequent Timothy McVeigh trial and his execution, and has even hosted "Nightline" for ABC.

In 2006, Terri left KOCO to work at the state capitol, finally getting to use – in a different way – her degree in political science and her many years of personal experience and contacts. She's now gone from the airwaves as an unmatched investigative reporter, but the standard she set for that kind of work will remain for many years to come.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ken Wilmot

Ken Wilmot's legacy to broadcasting started in 1947 with his World War II tour of duty in the 20th Special Services, 7th Army, where he served in the European Theater as an Infantry Heavy Weapons replacement. His creativity found a home in the Soldier Shows, a group of technicians that created plays and concerts for the troops stationed in Europe, which combined with the USO in 1946.

Returning home, Ken landed a job at Agfa-Ansco using color film to do movie dailies for the motion picture industry. Later, he attended New York's Pratt Institute. Graduating in 1951, Ken took a full-time position as Art Director for Eastern Corporation and married Marie Self of Englewood, Colorado.

Once in Denver, Ken did freelance Art Direction while he waited for KLZ radio to get their TV license. KLZ or Channel 7 was just starting up, and Ken helped with the graphic side of the local broadcasts. From 1953 to 1975, Ken worked at KLZ-TV in many capacities, and it was a great time for innovations.

In 1965, Ken was elected President of the Denver Art Directors Club.

In 1976, Ken joined KRMA (now Rocky Mountain PBS) as the Manager of Film and Graphics and was the mastermind behind the shift from KRMA-TV to the introduction of the new logo "SIX."

When Ken retired in the mid-1990s, he began to experiment more with digital painting and still combines this with oil paint and watercolor. Ken is still enjoying painting and creating and has built several computers to get the tools that he wants.

Ken was inducted into the Broadcast Professionals of Colorado's Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2004.

Silver Circle Honoree

Roger Cornish

Roger Cornish is currently the main news anchor at KWCH-TV in Wichita, Kansas. He started in the business in 1972 as a camera operator in KTVH in Hutchinson, moving to anchor/producer, and in 1980, making the move to KWCH. Roger not only anchors the evening newscasts but also reports from the field whenever the story requires it. His peers speak of his ability to adlib and handle the chaos of breaking news, and his sense of humor and ability to think on his feet makes him a model for many – he has always been the "master of extended live coverage." He is not a news reader but involved in the stories; he loves writing and can take complicated facts and boil them down to a few sentences. His professionalism, reputation, and integrity are bywords throughout the western two-thirds of the state; he provides leadership through example. KWCH has been named Station of the Year several times by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, and Roger has anchored coverage that has won regional and national Edward R. Murrow awards. He has a close connection with the community: bringing news to the East Side Rotary Club's weekly lunch, logging hours of time for Goodwill Easter Seals, the Kansas Food Bank, and telethons to raise money after natural disasters. Every year he anchors from the Kansas State Fair and takes time to meet and greet the crowds. Roger is a Kansas native, born and raised in Hutchinson, and is the recipient of numerous Kansas Association of Broadcasters Awards as well as awards from the RTNDA and Associated Press. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and they have a daughter attending Wichita State University and a son who is a Wichita police officer.

Silver Circle Honoree

Brad Edwards

Brad Edwards (1947-2006) started his television career in 1971 in Wichita Falls, Texas, prior to moving to KFOR and Oklahoma City in 1973, where he grew from a rookie street reporter to a respected news anchor. Since 1981, when Brad began his series of consumer-oriented reports, he has received between 300-500 calls every week from viewers asking for his assistance. Through his investigative In Your Corner franchise, Brad earned the reputation as a tough, fair champion of the folks who couldn't fight for themselves and became one of the most recognizable faces in the market. He exposed rip-offs and scams, and viewers loved him. He has worked to change access for the handicapped at public buildings, uncovered toxins in well water, and conducted fundraisers for Oklahoma children needing organ transplants in the early 1980s – back when insurance didn't cover such "experimental" surgeries. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame this year. Brad is an Emmy^® award recipient, as well as receiving awards from the AP and UPI, and has earned recognition from La Tremeda Radio Mexico for his work aiding Hispanic citizens and from the VFW for work on behalf of servicemen and women dealing with drug addiction. Brad started the Warmth for Winter program in 1982, providing coats to those in need, and Fans for Oklahoma in the summer which, through cash donations, provides relief to the elderly and poor from Oklahoma's scorching summers. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal in 1970 for his work as television news director with American Forces Thailand Network.

Silver Circle Honoree

Mark Koebrich

Mark Koebrich launched his career in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1974, then in 1978 moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and WLKY before moving to KUSA in 1981 as the Southern Bureau reporter in Colorado Springs. Since then, he's handled a variety of jobs. In 1988, he was loaned to USA TODAY-The Television Show as a national correspondent, from 1992-’94 he hosted "Good Afternoon Colorado," has been involved in the coverage of two Olympics Games for 9News and NBC, and he has covered four Denver Bronco Super Bowl appearances. He has anchored mornings, days, and evenings with aplomb; he is well-known as the Consumer Reporter for 9News. He writes in ways that help the viewer understand. Mark has done it all, and he is known as a good storyteller with an eye for detail. What is remarkable is his positive attitude and can-do spirit, which is legendary among his peers. He carries his professional integrity and big heart into everything he does – both on and off the air. Whether he's hosting a high-profile event or talking to a star-struck fan in the grocery store, Mark is genuinely nice and generous with his time. Each interaction is a chance to win a viewer for life, or what Mark likes to call "job security." Currently, Mark is the co-anchor for the 4pm news on KUSA and the 9pm news on KTVD in Denver, also owned by Gannett Broadcasting as is KUSA. Mark and his wife, Cathy, have two children.

Silver Circle Honoree

Bertha Lynn

Bertha Lynn, news anchor for KMGH in Denver at 5, 6, and 11 am, began her career in 1976. She spent 8 years as an anchor/reporter for KBTV (KUSA) before joining the 7News team in 1984. Her journalistic achievements and her service to the community have been honored with many awards, including the Emmy^®, RTNDA, and CABJ awards. In the newsroom, Bertha is known for her determination to get the story right and keeping the coverage balanced. Throughout the years, she has worked with a myriad of news directors, managers, and shift changes and has remained successful as a dedicated reporter and anchor; she always performs her job with a determination to make a significant contribution in that position. In a business where community connection is vital, Bertha has spent 30 years making sure she is connected to the Colorado community. She currently serves as a trustee for Regis University and is a member of the Denver Art Museum's African American task force. Other community support includes the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of Denver, the Mayor's Commission on Art, Culture and Film, and the Women's Foundation of Colorado, among many others. Bertha is married to Larry Naves, a Denver district judge, and together they have three children.

Silver Circle Honoree

Marcia Neville

Marcia Neville, the Prep Sports Specialist, began her career as the weekend sports anchor at WNYT in Albany in 1980. Three years later, she came to KCNC in Denver to become the first female television sportscaster in Colorado. Her specialty was high school sports, and her hallmark "Skylights" reports give parents and teens reason to be home by 10 pm on Fridays to watch highlights of the fall's big high school football games.

Schools, coaches, and associations recognize the positive impact that Marcia has had on high school sports through her genuine interest and unqualified support. Along the way, Marcia became an advocate for female athletes, and in 1993, she co-produced and hosted Colorado Sportswomen, a quarterly series of Emmy^® award-winning sports specials devoted exclusively to women and girls. Currently, Marcia serves on the advisory board for Sportswomen of Colorado, an organization she has been supporting for 20 years. She is also active with the Girl Scouts, serving as the honorary chair of the 5K & 1K Walk/Run for nine years now. She has been named a Woman of Distinction by the Mile Hi Council for the positive example she sets for today's girls. Marcia is the recipient of many awards, including multiple Emmy^® awards, American Women in Radio & TV Gracie Awards, and Women's Sports Foundation awards.

Silver Circle Honoree

Paula Woodward

Paula Woodward, Investigative Reporter for 9Wants to Know, joined KUSA in Denver in 1977. During her career, she has contributed to investigations that have touched on workers' compensation statutes, city employee performance, the dismissal of fire and police chiefs, and inspired a multi-jurisdictional internet predator sting. Tough, relentless, strategic, and motivated are words often used to describe her, and after nearly 30 years on the air in Denver, her name has a mental image that often evokes a bit of fear from anyone she calls for an interview. Paula's motivation is to make a difference in the community, not only as a "champion for the little guy," but also as a champion of all citizens by going after government waste in the metro area and the State. She really cares, and viewers trust her.

In her ongoing commitment to community service, Paula also presents a weekly segment offering legal referrals and advice in conjunction with the Denver Bar Association. She is the recipient of more than 22 regional Emmy^® awards and a national Edward R. Murrow award for Investigative Journalism, among numerous other awards. Paula is a native of Montana and received her Bachelor's degree from Montana State University. Before starting her career as a reporter for KDEN radio in Denver, Paula taught school.

Silver Circle Honoree

Roger Ogden

Possessing a shrewd business sense and a keen eye for talent, both on and off camera, Roger Ogden is arguably the icon in Denver television news. Recently named President and CEO of the Gannett Broadcasting Division, Roger's talent for leadership, journalistic excellence, visionary management, and community relations is legendary. A Colorado native, Roger's first television experience came at KBTV (now KUSA) in 1968, working as a reporter, part-time anchor, assignment editor, and managing news director. In 1977, he took a job as a news director at WLKY in Louisville, KY – moving back to Denver the following year as the news director at KUSA. From 1981-95, he was the President and GM of KOA-TV (then affiliated with NBC) and focused so intently on news that he had the call letters changed to KCNC – Colorado's News Channel. It was during this time that Roger's commitment to local news and serving the community began to set the standard in local television: coverage of the Bolder Boulder 10K race, adding morning news, afternoon news, expanding newscasts, telecasts of local high school and college sports.

For two years, he was President and GM of NBC Europe in London, returning to Denver and KUSA in 1997 as President and GM of Gannett-owned 9News. His belief in hard competition and good sportsmanship set the tone for the market. His focus on innovation and technology has resulted in KUSA being one of three stations in the country broadcasting local news in HDTV. His legacy of leadership includes innovative new community-oriented programs, dedication to news, and team building. In addition, he is one of the founding GMs of the Heartland Chapter and a strong supporter of the Colorado Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame and the Colorado Broadcasters Association. He resides in Denver with his wife, Anne, and family.

Board of Governors Award Recipient: 1996

Gold & Silver Circle Honoree

Bill Perry

Bill Perry is Deputy Director, Network Public Affairs at Oklahoma Educational Television (OETA), the public television network serving Oklahoma. In that capacity, he oversees the production of two monthly documentary programs: Stateline (focusing on the issues, people, and politics of Oklahoma) and Gallery (showcasing the arts and culture of the state), Oklahoma News Report programs, and other in-house productions of public affairs programs and specials.

An Oklahoma native, Bill began his television career at KTEN in Ada – operating the station’s first color camera for the first locally-originated color program there in 1969. Moving to KOCO’s news team as an anchor, producer, reporter, and photographer, he then went on to Dallas, working on both sides of the camera at KDFW. As the News Director for WBBH in Ft. Meyers, he supervised field coverage for the launch of the first NASA Space Shuttle. During his time with WATE in Tennessee, he was one of 9 news directors to form the ABC News Directors Advisory Board to foster affiliate news services for the network. AP and UPI news awards followed.

Back in Oklahoma in 1986, Bill taught broadcast news at East Central University in addition to his television work at first KTEN and then KAUT. In 1990, he joined OETA as the Field Bureau Manager and quickly took over the reins of the documentary department, garnering Emmys^®, Clarions, Auroras, NETAs, and countless other regional and state awards. Bill consistently involves himself in helping the community in many ways: he and fellow members of the 1997 class of the Oklahoma City Police Academy adopted the motto “Ready to Help.” He works with the Christian Retirement Community raising funds and helping with promotional materials. For the past 10 years, he has been an integral part of the Oklahoma City Gridiron Club political parody show, which helps raise money for Oklahoma Journalism student scholarships. Bill serves as a Regional Vice President of the Heartland Chapter Board of Governors and is the president of the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters group.

Bill and his wife, Sue, reside in Edmond; his two children live in Texas.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ed Scott

Anyone living in Denver in the 1950s and early 1960s – especially the youngsters – will remember Sheriff Scotty. The Sheriff, a grizzled 70-year-old lawman, appeared on their black and white television sets emphasizing good old-fashioned American values: he wanted his "posse" members to do their chores, obey their folks, and treat their friends with honesty and respect. Ed Scott was a 20-something broadcasting entrepreneur when he first donned the Sheriff's badge; today he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado – and in between is a lifetime of service to the broadcast community.

Ed Scott started his television career in Chicago in 1949 as a freelance actor, host, and announcer. He moved to Denver in 1953 and has, in the ensuing 45 years, worked on various shows as a producer, host, announcer, analyst, narrator, and even puppeteer – at KMGH, KUSA, KCNC, KWGN, and Rocky Mountain PBS. He was awarded a first-place Telly in national competition for his work on the documentary, "There Was a Time." His "day jobs" (in freelance lingo) show that Ed had a flair for the business of broadcasting as well as community service: ownership of radio stations in Denver and Kansas City, serving as the Mayor of Englewood, and election to the Colorado State Senate – just to name a few!

Ed is also known as a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, participates in numerous leadership activities within his church, and has been inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado Hall of Fame.

Silver Circle Honoree

Fred Shook

Fred Shook is a television news advisor and trainer for US and international clients, working with reporters, photojournalists, producers, editors, management, corporations, and government agencies to implement more effective storytelling approaches and communication practices. He established the broadcast journalism program at Colorado State University and has been a member of the faculty for the annual National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Television News Video Workshop from 1984 through 1997, and the NPPA Advanced Team Television News Workshop from 1998 to the present. He has written five books on electronic news gathering, field reporting, news writing, and the process of news broadcasting. Before joining the faculty at Colorado State, Fred worked as a news writer, reporter, photographer, editor, and producer for over 22 years.

During his tenure with the University of Oklahoma, Fred helped to expand and refine the broadcast journalism curriculum for the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and contributed to the design of the school's new wing.

News professionals from around the Heartland region and, in fact, from across the country have learned the finer points of excellence in journalism from Fred Shook; he is indefatigable in his ability to instill in his students a respect for this powerful medium, a delight in storytelling, and the motivation to preserve the integrity of journalism.

Fred is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including the NPPA's "Outstanding National Educator" award.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ron Zappolo

Ron Zappolo is the co-anchor of the 9 O'clock news at KDVR Fox31 in Denver, having helped in its launch 5 years ago. Ron got his start back in 1970 at WTTG in Washington, DC, as a copy boy, working his way up to the weekend sportscaster position. Seven years later, he made the jump to KOA (now KCNC) and moved to Denver – knowing only that it was part of one of those "square states" out west. He worked as the main sports anchor, did play-by-play for KOA radio, and made a name for himself in the sports world by earning the respect of players, coaches, and viewers for his integrity, reporting, and love of sports. In 1990, he moved to KUSA as a sports anchor and also as the host of the "Denver Huddle," a sports interview show. He became known for his sports commentary segments during the nightly newscast.

Making the change from a sports guy to a credible news anchor has been a challenge Ron welcomed with his trademark professionalism and humility. At KDVR, he also hosts a show, "Zappolo's People," during which he interviews celebrities, politicians, and local heroes. Ron is now firmly entrenched in Colorado and active in the community. He is passionate about his work with the Adoption Exchange, for over 15 years helping to make the public aware of children in the foster care system waiting for parents. Ron is also active with the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer event and the Colorado Aids Project.

Ron enjoys spending time on the golf course or watching a good game – especially the Red Sox! – but most of all, he loves spending time with his wife and five children.

Silver Circle Honoree

Darrell Barton

Before television, Darrell Barton was a combat marine in Vietnam. He began his career at KAKE in Wichita, then was hired in 1969 by WKY/KTVY in Oklahoma City where he worked for the next 14 years. As Chief Photographer, he inspired a consistently award-winning staff that received two National Press Photographer's Association Station of the Year titles. He was named NPPA Photographer of the Year in 1974 and again in 1981.

In 1983, Darrell established Barton Productions and has worked as a freelancer for all major networks. When 48 Hours was created, Darrell quickly became a charter member of the cadre of shooters used on the show. He is widely regarded as one of the finest television cameramen ever, pioneering that fluid, invisible hand-held camera technique.

Throughout his career, Darrell has maintained a close relationship with the NPPA television workshop held annually in Norman, OK; he has been a faculty member for 30 years despite his globetrotting schedule. Darrell teaches storytelling with compassion and is a vocal proponent of words married to pictures and sound; such basic concepts as "beginning, middle, end" are woven into the fabric of his shooting style. He is a recipient of the NPPA's Morris Berman citation and the prestigious Joseph Sprague Memorial Award, a national Emmy^® nomination and a Gold Medal from the Chicago Film Festival.

Darrell and his wife, Marilyn, reside on a farm in rural Logan County, Oklahoma. He is the father of two grown children and spends his spare time tooling around in his old trucks, riding his Harley, and hitting golf balls at passing trains from his back porch.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ed Greene

Ed Greene, News4 weather and news anchor, has called Colorado home since the early 1970s. His first on-air broadcast journalism job was in radio at KIMN in 1972. Ed began appearing on television in 1976 as weather and news anchor at KMGH. He joined KCNC in 1981 and has worked with the crew at News4 for most of his broadcast career. He loves his job and Colorado's always-changing weather. In the newsroom, Ed is a leader who sets a positive example for his co-workers and a mentor who takes time and energy for the dozens of students who have worked under his tutelage.

Outside the newsroom, Ed is one of the most recognizable and involved TV personalities in the community. He donates his time to emcee upwards of 70 events a year for local non-profit organizations and is a prominent figure at many local functions. Ed says, "I feel a responsibility to give back to the community. Doing that is what has kept me going all these years. The community has been good to me and in return I donate my time so that local non-profit organizations can raise money and awareness for good causes. I feel it's the right thing to do." Ed is the chairman for Men for the Cure, a fundraising effort for breast cancer research. As a survivor of heart disease, Ed has made hundreds of visits on behalf of the cause and has served as the spokesperson and honorary chair for the American Heart Association. He has been the Spokesperson and Emcee for the Adoption Exchange and the Day for Wednesday's Child, and has served on the Boards for the Colorado Symphony and the Volunteers of America.

Silver Circle Honoree

Russell Scott

Thousands of Colorado Natives, now in their thirties, forties, and even fifties, celebrated their most memorable childhood birthday parties on television with Blinky the Clown. For over 30 years, these children heard a kind and caring voice singing "Happy Berfday To You." The voice came from the always smiling, painted face of Russell Scott.

Born in Enid, Oklahoma, Russell landed a job hosting a live daily television show on KKTV in Colorado Springs in 1960. Six years later, he was lured away to Denver where Blinky's Fun Club continued to teach and entertain children at KWGN-TV. Blinky always stressed safety to his viewers: don't play with matches, stay out of the streets, and mind mom and dad – were familiar themes. Russell's love of performing is matched with his love and compassion for the children. Co-workers admit that they seldom saw Russell at the TV station, but Blinky was always there. Blinky the Clown was created by Russell for the sole purpose of entertaining children; for many of these children, appearing on Blinky's Fun Club was so memorable that they returned as adults, bringing their own children on the show.

Russell's television career spans four decades, and he has produced and hosted nearly 10,000 shows. He has devoted countless hours of his time to the community: Salvation Army Bells, Hospital Visitations, and Honorary Ringmaster at the Ringling Brother's Circus. These days he spends time at his antique store on Broadway in Denver. He came to work one day to find that there had been a break-in, but nothing was missing. Instead, he found a note of apology from the would-be burglar; it said, "I sat on your lap when I was five years old, I just couldn't rob Blinky."

Silver Circle Honoree

Bill Stuart

Bill has been an integral part of Denver broadcasting for more than 25 years. Throughout these past decades, he has been a calm and reassuring presence, guiding Colorado viewers through coverage of the state's worst tragedies and greatest triumphs. He provided hours of live coverage on the crash of United flight 232, the Columbine shootings, the Hayman Fire, and the Pope's visit to Denver in 1993. His work on these stories—and hundreds of others in his career at News4—has earned him regional and national recognition.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Bill spent the early part of his life in the South. It was during his senior year in high school that he realized he might want to go into broadcasting. After attending classes at the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Tennessee, Bill went on to serve as an anchor at several stations: WTVF-TV in Nashville, KSDK-TV in St. Louis, and WALA-TV in Mobile, Alabama. He soon moved west to work at KMGH-TV in Denver. In December 1981, he joined News4 as a weeknight anchor. His successful career has resulted in numerous local and national awards, including 15 Emmys^® from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his "journalistic enterprise" reporting. He has earned two national Headliner Awards and a Peabody Award for his series, "Yellowstone: Four Seasons After Fire." He received a duPont Award for "Erin's Life," a series on the life of a woman who survived a serious accident. And, in 2001, Bill was honored with a national Edward R. Murrow Award for "Erin's Life: Ten Years Later."

The best part of his job, according to Bill, is the opportunity to meet interesting people. But one hardship of the business is the emotional impact of some stories. The one that stands out in his mind occurred in 1991 when he traveled to Romania to do stories on young orphans. He says he could not have imagined the horrific conditions he found there.

Bill has been actively involved in many community service campaigns. Most notably, Bill took the lead in a News4 effort to help find homes for Colorado kids awaiting adoption. As a spokesman for the Adoption Exchange for nearly 20 years, Bill has profiled kids looking for families. His efforts have helped almost 3,500 kids find new families.

In December 2001, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb honored Bill with a proclamation recognizing his decades of service to Denver television. Bill is married and has two children. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Silver Circle Honoree

Cathy Grieve

Dr. Cathy A. Grieve is an assistant professor and Director of Internships for the School of Communication (SOC) at the University of Denver. In her over 30 years of teaching, Dr. Grieve has received numerous honors for teaching and service, including the University of Denver Distinguished Teaching Award, the William T. Driscoll Master Educator Award, the University of Denver Kynewisbok Pioneer Award, the Colorado nominee for the National Partnership in Education, Inc. Award, and the Seton Tradition Award from the Archdiocese of Denver.

While her area of expertise is in public relations, corporate communication, and crisis management, Grieve has assisted hundreds of students in exploring television and broadcasting through the SOC internship program. Her students have interned at the major network affiliates and the public and community stations in Denver in positions ranging from reporting to production to community affairs. Her students have also interned for such successful series as "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Conan O'Brien Show" and have interned for CNN, ESPN, MTV, Telemundo, and Rocket Pictures, producers for Animal Planet and Discovery.

Grieve is also active in various community organizations and serves on numerous boards and committees. Her recent involvements include the Colorado Mental Health Association, Project Cure, CASA, and chair of the Archdiocese of Denver's tuition assistance program Seeds of Hope.

Grieve received her B.A. in Speech Communication from Mount St. Joseph-on-the-Ohio and an M.A. in Mass Communication and a Ph.D. in Speech Communication from the University of Denver. Cathy has been married to Joe for 29 years, and they have three children, two sons who graduated from DU and a daughter who will graduate from DU in 2004.

Silver Circle Honoree

Doug Fox

An old advertising campaign at WFAA-TV once boasted, "If it touches your life, it's on News 8." Veteran journalist Doug Fox has been reporting the news and touching lives for 38 years. Fox has covered news as a working street reporter for one station in Dallas-Fort Worth for almost four decades, a record unparalleled in a business where jumping from job to job, from market to market is so often mistaken for professional accomplishment.

Fox was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grew up in Dallas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin. Out of college, he worked for several years in news radio before joining KWTV-TV in Oklahoma City, where he worked as a weekend anchor, political reporter, and director of special projects. In 1974, he returned to Texas. Currently, the Chief Political Reporter at WFAA-TV, Doug is known as a "reporter's reporter." He has the remarkable ability to encapsulate the moment, to capture the tone and emotion of a situation, and to translate it into words and pictures understood by all.

Over his distinguished career, Fox mentored a veritable "Who's Who" of broadcasting professionals, including (to name only a few) CBS's Scott Pelley, former ABC correspondent Peggy Wehmeyer, CBS anchor Russ Mitchell, and CNN's Paula Zahn. Doug also touched the lives of countless other young journalists by always having both the time and the patience to guide interns through what, for most, was their first professional experience.

Doug is married and has three children. They live in Richardson, Texas, where they are active in local neighborhood and church activities.

Silver Circle Honoree

Clarice Tinsley

Clarice Tinsley, or CT as we call her in the newsroom, has been in the television industry for 27 years. Clarice grew up in Detroit, the Motor City, and since her 5th-grade English class, knew that she wanted to motor out of there and become a reporter.

She began her career as a reporter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July 1975 at WITI-TV. In just three years, she had become a noon and weekend anchor. Then it was time to move to KDFW in Dallas, as the main anchor. 24 years later, she's still the main anchor. Her pride and joy is "Clarice's Hometown Heroes," which each week honors an outstanding North Texas volunteer. Not only does she report on special people, but she also volunteers as a reader at Reading and Radio Resource in Dallas. Clarice reads books that are put on tape and distributed to over 50,000 blind or visually impaired children in the state of Texas.

On the anniversary of her twentieth year in television, the Dallas-Fort Worth community held an event honoring her years of service to North Texas viewers. It was a huge party and gave the community a chance to say thanks to a person who gives so much back every day.

Silver Circle Honoree

Larry Green

Born in Greeley, Colorado, Larry has two children, Andy and Whitney, and is married to Amy Thompson Green. He graduated from Arvada West High School in 1967 and attended Northern Arizona University from 1967 to 1969. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech from Colorado State University in 1971.

Larry worked as a reporter, photographer, anchor, sportscaster, and Assistant News Director of KGUN-TV in Tucson before moving to KVOA-TV in Tucson to handle promotion and weather duties. While in Tucson, he also worked as the Advertising and Promotion Director at Nordensson Advertising. Before joining KCNC News4 in May of 1982, Larry was the weathercaster at KMGH-TV Channel 7 in Denver.

Currently, Larry co-anchors "First news" with Stephanie Riggs and takes on the weathercasting duties of News4 at 5 and News4 at 10, Sunday through Thursday evenings. He has received two Emmy^® Awards for his 1988 tornado coverage and his 1989 science reporting with Professor John Taylor of the University of Colorado.

Outside his regular duties, Larry participates in several community projects, including the annual Salvation Army Share the Spirit Drive, and activities with Cystic Fibrosis, YMCA, and others. He was named the 1995 Broadcast Citizen of the Year by the Colorado Broadcasters Association. In his spare time, fishing, fly-fishing, sports, and woodworking are his favorite activities.

Silver Circle Honoree

Bruce Friddle

Bruce Friddle began his career in the mid-1960s working for SWAV-TV in Savannah, Georgia, as the only news photographer. Highlights of his career include working on the Grand Ole Opry, serving on the crew of the first live telecast of the Masters Golf Tournament, being invited to join the "Wide, Wide, World," and working on the Dinah Shore "Chevy Show."

While in Peru for 15 years, Friddle produced 36 documentaries for the U.S. Information Service and produced two daily soap operas in Spanish. He was part of the location crew for the movie "The Old Man and the Sea" and was an associate producer for the Academy Award-nominated feature film "The Gallant One" from Disney.

In 1988, Friddle joined the City of Plano to launch the Plano Television Network. In little more than a decade, he grew a staff of three to a staff of twelve. During his tenure, Friddle took pride in recruiting and training volunteers to form the backbone of the fledgling network. Many of these volunteers have gone on to successful careers at major-market broadcast stations. As a visionary in the ever-changing world of television technology, Friddle assisted Collin County Community College in creating their Applied Graphic Design Technology program. The curriculum trains today's artists and designers in computer-aided communication design.

When he retired in May of 2001, he left the Plano Television Network staff with a legacy of almost 200 awards, including 4 regional Emmy^® nominations, 13 Cable Ace nominations, and 3 Cable Ace winners. Friddle's staff credits him with encouraging them to beat the odds to prove that a municipal cable access station can be competitive in the "real world TV."

Silver Circle Honoree

Scott Murray

Scott Murray has been the Sports Director/Anchor at NBC 5 (KXAS-TV) in Dallas/Ft. Worth since 1980. He has received several accolades for his work in sports broadcasting. Scott was the recipient of the 2000 Heartland Regional Emmy^® Award for Best Sports Anchor. He has also been named Associated Press and UPI Sportscaster of the Year eight times and voted Best Sportscaster in Texas seven times by both AP and UPI.

Apart from his sportscasting career, Scott is actively involved in various children's civic and charitable organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors for multiple organizations, including the American Cancer Society, MDA, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Special Olympics. He hosts "NBC 5," a weekly segment of "Scott's Kids," a show that has received national recognition from Big Brothers and Sisters of America.

Scott began his broadcasting career as a teenager in Rochester, New York, where he hosted a nightly radio show while attending the University of Rochester as a pre-med major. However, he decided to pursue broadcasting after college and landed his first television job in Albany, New York, as the Sports Director/Anchor at WAST-TV (now WNYT). He then worked at WHEC-TV in Rochester for a short period before moving to the NBC O & O in Washington, DC. Eventually, he settled in Texas, where he has built his career and raised his family. Both his son and daughter have graduated from Baylor University.

Scott Murray is not only an award-winning journalist but also a caring, generous, and compassionate individual who exemplifies the best of broadcasting.

Silver Circle Honoree

Gary England

In a state where the weather is quickly changing and life-threatening, Gary England, Chief Meteorologist at KWTV in Oklahoma City, is literally a lifesaver. Viewers trust him, and they know that he knows what he is talking about. His innovations, developed for Oklahoma, are now common tools for weather prediction and safety throughout the entire United States. If you want to see for yourself what Gary has initiated, simply turn on your TV during a severe storm.

In 1981, Gary became the first meteorologist in history to use Doppler radar for direct warnings to the public. Official warnings at that time usually came after the storm or with too little time to take shelter. In 1990, he developed First Warning, an automated severe weather warning computer system, which provides viewers with instantaneous weather warnings from the National Weather Service.

In 1991, Gary developed StormTracker, a severe weather tracking and projection computer system now in use nationwide. In 1999, he developed Storm Signal, a computer-based severe weather warning system that allows a person to receive warnings at the same time as the warning is appearing on a television screen.

On May 3, 1999, the most powerful and devastating tornado ever recorded slammed into Oklahoma, an event that could have resulted in hundreds of deaths. Due to Gary England’s efforts and innovations, Oklahomans had ample time either to flee their homes or properly prepare themselves for what was to hit. Over the years, Gary has become an institution in Oklahoma, but his impact reaches far beyond. There is not a person reading this who has not in some way or another been the beneficial recipient of all that he has introduced into electronic weather forecasting.

Board of Governors Award Recipient: 1997

Silver Circle Honoree

Trudy Fowler

Trudy Fowler is an institution throughout Colorado, and indeed, throughout the United States and Russia. She began her career in 1965, volunteering for Colorado’s first PBS station, KRMA-TV, and embarked on a lifelong journey of nonprofit awareness. For more than 30 years, she played a key role in the development of a small, under-funded local public television station, which today is known as Rocky Mountain PBS, a statewide network. She has raised funds, recruited volunteers, lobbied extensively, established cooperative community relations, and become one of the most recognized personalities in Denver. Through her devotion to Rocky Mountain PBS, she has contributed the gift of public television to the community — helping to educate and entertain all of Colorado’s communities. Her gifts do not stop within the confines of Colorado’s borders. They extend to the far reaches of Novgorod, Russia, where she visited and sponsored producers of a fledgling public television system in that country. She instructed them in all aspects of fundraising, in building a volunteer corps, and developing steering committees to help them along their journey. In 1998, Trudy received the Citizen’s Democracy Corporation Certificate of Appreciation for serving as an advisor to Public TV in Novgorod, Russia. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Colorado Federation of the Arts, the Advisory Board and Marketing Committee for Denver Metro Gives, the Executive Committee of the Denver Partnership Executive Network, the Colorado Tennis Association Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee of the Colorado Potter’s Guild. She was instrumental in the creation and development of The Hospice of St. John, helping to develop their bylaws, a board of directors, and initiating a fundraising campaign, calling upon all her resources to help this hospice. She has helped unify people with mission; mission with vision, and throughout has not overlooked the basic principles of the community. Her respect and love for the community are responsible for her success, and it is that which drives her.

Silver Circle Honoree

Larry Hatteberg

For 36 years, Larry Hatteberg has brought a special kind of television to Kansas. His constant search for ordinary people, whose stories illuminate larger issues, puts him in a position to develop a personal relationship with Kansas viewers. Throughout the nation, he is known as a video storyteller who can "touch" people with his television journalism. His "Hatteberg's People" series is the longest-running television feature in Kansas. His recently published book "Larry Hatteberg's Kansas People," based on the television series, is a best-seller. It profiles 75 Kansans who make the state a unique place to live. His second book, a sequel called "More Larry Hatteberg's Kansas People," profiles 85 additional Kansas people and was published in 1994.

Larry’s television career began at KAKE in 1963 when he started as a part-time film lab technician. He has been a photographer, chief photographer, assistant news director, executive news director, and is now the Managing Editor of KAKE News and the prime-time co-anchor of KAKE News at Five. He is also the co-host of the local segments of the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day Telethon. There are few major awards Larry hasn't won. Twice he was named National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Television News Cameraman of the Year. He is one of only a select few to have received the award twice. He has also received three additional awards from the NPPA. In addition, Larry has received over 85 local, state, and national awards for television news photography, reporting, and for helping to set broadcast journalism standards. He was also a national semi-finalist for NASA's Journalist in Space program.

A native of Kansas, Larry's interest in photography began in high school where he was the photo-editor of the school newspaper and yearbook. He went on to attend Kansas State Teachers College and Wichita State University. He and his wife live in Wichita.

Gold & Silver Circle Honoree

Bill Thrash

For nearly fifty years, Bill Thrash has been associated with quality television programming in Oklahoma. He is a community leader who constantly leverages his media and arts community network to improve the quality of life for Oklahomans through a variety of public events. Bill began his career in the production department of a small Oklahoma town's only TV station. He moved up in market size as he advanced through the ranks, eventually landing at the ABC and NBC affiliates in Oklahoma City. For the last twelve years, Bill has been a creative force behind a statewide public TV network that frequently provides programming to the national PBS audience.

In the 1970s, Bill directed "The Stars and Stripes Show starring Bob Hope," one of the first programs created and produced in Oklahoma City and seen nationally on NBC. He also produced several country music specials for national broadcast, launched the innovative "PM Magazine" in Oklahoma, and produced and directed numerous other television programs. These days, Bill creates new programs for OETA and produces the new "Lawrence Welk" specials as well as repackages the original Welk programs. Along the way, Bill has been nominated for several Emmys^® and has picked up a few for some great programs.

Through the years, Bill has been a mentor for those searching for excellence in broadcasting. Bill was the first to hire Mary Hart when he brought her to Oklahoma City for a talk show. He also worked with Bob Dotson on a project in Oklahoma City that earned Bob his first Emmy^®. Other names are less well-known outside of Oklahoma, but collectively, they have earned many Emmys^® and other awards. They all remember the time they were privileged to work with Bill Thrash.

Gold Circle Inductee: 2010

Silver Circle Honoree

Bob Turner

Bob Turner is recognized around the world as one of the foremost experts in broadcasting technology. After leaving the seminary in the early 1950s, Bob Turner joined WFAA-TV in May of 1953 as a camera operator and floorman. Four years later, he became a director. In 1963, Turner directed the first "live" cut-ins on Dallas television of the John F. Kennedy assassination, staying on duty for 56 straight hours and feeding the entire ABC television network. At WFAA, Bob researched, and in some cases, participated in the initial design of some of the most advanced forms of broadcast technology within a television facility in the Southwest. In 1970, Turner became the manager of WFAA. In 1981, he served as the station's systems engineer for capital planning, and he continued in that capacity for fifteen years. In 1995, Turner became the director of Capital Planning for all Belo television properties. That same year, he was honored by his peers as the Employee of the Year at WFAA-TV. In 2000, he received the William H. Seay award, a Belo award for integrity, loyalty, journalistic standards, and community commitment. In 1998, Turner led the charge as WFAA-DT signed-on as the nation's first station to broadcast high-definition television on a VHF signal. It was his technical leadership that provided the vision for this moment in broadcast history. Bob once said he had lived through "everything from black and white to color, film to videotape and beyond." After 47 years of broadcast innovation and excellence, Bob Turner continues to push the envelope technically and creatively, but he is also well-known and respected for his willingness to help and encourage others. His mentoring skills have helped launch many a career, and a list of his protégés reads like a "Who's Who" in Texas broadcasting and across the nation.

Gold & Silver Circle Honoree

Tom Cook

For the past 50 years, W. Thomas Cook has been involved in Broadcasting Telecommunications. A native of Nebraska, Tom began his career in radio at KBRL-AM-1450, McCook, Nebraska, in 1948. He has been active in radio, television, film, and electronic media from 1948 to the present. He is very proud of the fact that he was able to combine what he calls the "best of two worlds" throughout his career, mainly the real world of broadcasting and the academic world of education. Professor Cook became a member of the Council for Public Broadcasting at KRMA-TV in Denver, Colorado, in 1965 and served on the Board of Directors and the advisory council for Rocky Mountain PBS for 32 years. During this time, he worked on the air in a variety of capacities at KRMA-TV. In 1979, Tom became the host of Denver Showcase on KOA-TV (now KCNC).

During those years, he interviewed leading figures in politics, arts, economies, sciences, and sports. He continued that series until illness forced him to leave Denver Showcase in 1991. With the opening of Metropolitan State College in 1965, Professor Cook established the first broadcasting curriculum in the state, which in turn led to the first broadcasting-telecommunications major program leading to a baccalaureate degree in 1976. It was during this time that Tom, working with his good friend, Carl Akers, started the first internship at KBTV-TV and radio in 1968. Today, Metro students are participating in 140 telecommunications internships throughout the region and the United States. Thousands of students have taken part in the program since 1968, many of whom are current leaders in the broadcasting industry.

W. Thomas Cook has received several honors during his long career, including the Distinguished Faculty award from Metro State College in Denver in 1983, the Distinguished Service Award for establishing the broadcasting internship program in 1988. As a charter member of the Colorado chapter of NATAS, he was instrumental in the establishment of the scholarship program for future television leaders and was honored with a distinguished service award by the chapter. When asked about what pleased him most about his 50 years in the industry, he replied, "Seeing my students succeed and benefit from the life experiences that I have been able to impart to them. I am so very proud of their many accomplishments."

Gold Circle Inductee: 2002

Silver Circle Honoree

Al Flanagan

It's no exaggeration to suggest that Al Flanagan has influenced the careers of hundreds of broadcast professionals across the country as a programmer, station manager, and corporate leader. His reputation is that of a tough but honest and compassionate broadcaster with a passion for making the best television programs. Flanagan grew up in California but went to college at the University of Florida where he caught the broadcasting bug at the campus radio station. Before he graduated in 1942, Flanagan had already been the station's program manager for three years. After a distinguished career in the US Marines during World War II, Flanagan resumed his broadcasting career in California by directing Emmy^® Award-winning programs.

In 1962, Al became the general manager of KBTV and KBTR Radio in Denver. He led the stations to prominence in news and programming. He pioneered community events like the 9Health Fair and 9Who Care. These community-based programs represented an abiding belief by Flanagan that the absolute key to success for local broadcasters is understanding and serving their local viewers. He put this belief into practice throughout his career, even when he became a corporate executive. When Combined Communications Corp. bought KBTV (now KUSA), Flanagan became the company's president. He went on to become the president of Gannett Broadcasting when that company bought CCC in 1979. In that role, he oversaw television and radio stations across the country. Flanagan retired from Gannett in 1984.

Silver Circle Honoree

Ed Sardella

Ed Sardella has enjoyed a career in broadcasting spanning more than 30 years, the past 25 as a primary anchor at KUSA in Denver. He grew up in California, attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, and graduated with a B.A. in 1962. After college, Ed spent four years in the Marine Corps as a communications officer. He left the service with the rank of Captain. Upon completion of his tour of duty, Ed worked at radio stations in Ashland, Tillamook, and Eugene, Oregon, before going into television at KVAL in 1969. In 1970, he moved to KOIN in Portland, where he worked in both news and sports.

Ed moved to Colorado in 1972 as a news and sports reporter and anchor at KMGH. Ed joined KBTV (now KUSA) in 1974 and over the years became one of the top news anchors in the Denver market. He co-anchored 9News at 10 when the broadcast had achieved some of the highest audience levels of any late newscast in the United States. Beyond his popularity as a news anchor, those who know Ed also know he is a first-rate journalist, with a particular skill in the craft of broadcast news writing. Ed has written a guide for broadcast news writing and co-written a book about producing television newscasts. He travels the country giving seminars on writing and has taught the subject as a visiting professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Ed's numerous honors through the years include several Emmys from the Heartland Chapter. He was also named Broadcaster of the Year by the Colorado Broadcasters Association in 1997.

Silver Circle Honoree

Clayton Vaughn

The first television image Clayton Vaughn ever saw came flickering onto a set that sat in his father's appliance store in Cushing, Oklahoma in 1949. The grainy pictures were being beamed across the plains from Tulsa's KOTV, northeastern Oklahoma's first television station. No one could have known then how the fates would conspire to bring Clayton and KOTV together for a 35-year run of solid journalism, community service, and the power of television to make the state a better place to live.

After stints at radio stations in Cushing and Tulsa, Clayton made the jump to television in 1964. Broadcast news in Tulsa was just coming into its own, and Clayton's reporting and anchoring soon made him a household name in northeastern Oklahoma. News executives in larger cities took note, and Clayton left for anchoring stints at KABC (Los Angeles) and WNEY (New York Public Television). But he always found his way back to Tulsa.

Clayton Vaughn was, first and foremost, a journalist from the old school. As KOTV's news director in the 1970s, he put together Tulsa's first hour-long evening news program. Over the course of 35 years, he grew to be known as "The Dean of Tulsa Television," and he used that influence to not only further the craft of television but to better the community he loves. He maintained a mentoring program in the KOTV newsroom, coaching young producers and reporters in the skills he felt were important.

Clayton took his lessons to Tulsa's Booker T. Washington High School, where he taught lessons on broadcasting. He seemed to figure he ought to be catching the mistakes and encouraging the dreams a little earlier. He quietly worked on preserving Tulsa's history with his tireless efforts for the county's historical society. He was instrumental in preserving hours of old KOTV film footage and seeing to it that it was handed over to the society for safekeeping. With the public trust and confidence he built over the years, Clayton also served the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries Racism Task Force, Hospice of Green County, and Leadership Tulsa, which grooms young people for leadership roles in the region's businesses and industries.

Silver Circle Honoree

Linda Cavanaugh

During her twenty-five years in broadcast journalism, KFOR-TV's Linda Cavanaugh has become nationally known for her accomplishments. This year, Linda was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame as "one of the most distinguished journalists in the history of the state." Through her leadership and innovation, she has set, and in many instances, raised the standards for broadcast journalists.

She began her career as a reporter/photographer. In a short time, she became the first female co-anchor of the evening newscasts at KFOR-TV and continues to anchor the 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. newscasts. But while taking a seat behind the anchor desk, she never left the reporter's field. During her career, she has earned more than thirty national awards for her reporting, as well as twice that many state and regional awards, in addition to eleven Emmys^® from the Heartland Chapter of NATAS.

Her most recent national recognitions include the 1997 Headliner's Award, the 1997 Public Service Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Freedom Foundation's George Washington Medal of Honor. Linda Cavanaugh's career has been marked by a number of firsts. Her investigative reports on health conditions inside Oklahoma restaurants resulted in changes in the law. "Behind Kitchen Doors" moved lawmakers to open the inspection records of the health department so that consumers, for the first time, could be aware of violations.

She was the first non-network journalist from the United States allowed in the Soviet Union under that country's new "glasnost" policy. Linda reported on how much of Oklahoma's wheat crop was ending up on the tables of Russian families. George Washington University honored the project with its Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting.

In 1995, she traveled to Vietnam to become the first American journalist allowed in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, a prisoner of war camp where many American officers spent their last days. She was accompanied by former POW Dan Glenn, a Navy pilot who spent six years as a prisoner. Through her series, "Remember the Dragon," she told the story of a war that many Americans would like to forget, as seen through the eyes of a man who never will.

Linda Cavanaugh's humanitarianism is as impressive as her journalism. An Oklahoma native, she has worked throughout her career to better her community and the state she calls home. It was through her efforts that support was spearheaded for the first hospice in Oklahoma. Her documentary, "A Time to Die," raised the seed money that was used to start Hospice of Oklahoma County – a non-profit organization that brought home care to the terminally ill.

Linda Cavanaugh approaches projects with an honesty and warmth that enables stories to be told that have never before been recorded. In the early nineties, she became the first journalist allowed to photograph ancient Indian rituals that had been closed to all except tribal members. Her resulting twelve-part series, "Strangers In Their Own Land," brought a sense of understanding and pride to Oklahoma's thirty-seven Indian tribes. Her documentary was later recognized with Delta Chi's national Distinguished Service Award, as well as ten other national awards.

Silver Circle Honoree

Don Kinney

Emmy^® award-winning journalist Don Kinney has delivered in-depth television reporting to the people of Colorado for nearly 30 years. January 1998 marked his 20th year with "The State of Colorado," a weekly televised discussion of news events which airs on Rocky Mountain PBS, Channel 6 in Denver and Channel 18 in Grand Junction.

Don's career began at a small radio station in Montana, taking him to Idaho and on to CBS News in New York. As a radio reporter, a CBS Evening News researcher & writer for Walter Cronkite, and a reporter/producer covering the Gemini and Apollo space programs, Don filled a variety of roles at the network level.

In 1969, Don entered the Denver market as producer of TV News at KLZ-TV (now KMGH). In the next decade, he also served as Medical Science Reporter for KLZ-TV and Radio, as well as KOA-TV (now KCNC), before coming to KRMA-TV, Rocky Mountain PBS. Kinney also owns his own production company, Rocky Mountain Reflections.

Don's programs have received awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Heartland Chapter; the New York Film Festival; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; the Colorado Broadcaster's Association, and numerous others. Over the years, Don has devoted himself to training journalists through mentoring and internship programs and helps to raise funds for journalism scholarships. For instance, as an avid marathon runner, Don, in 1994, raised $29,000 for journalism scholarships by running across the state of Montana (a total of 666 miles in 15 1/2 days).

Silver Circle Honoree

Reynelda Muse

No bio available at this time.