A Hall of Fame Reunion

By Stuart Warner


Angst over the future of the business. Concern for our younger colleagues. Yet belief that their technical wizardry will produce an economic model that will allow them to earn a living practicing the craft that we loved. All words spoken at the third Annual Press Club of Cleveland Hall of Fame Reunion & After-Work Party on May 18 at Nighttown where the skills and virtues represented by our Hall of Famers were represented, discussed and debated, including the hope that the journalism values they stood for will not be lost in an industry that is spinning upside down.

At least a dozen HOF members were on hand. TV-8's Danny Coghlan, the last to arrive, of course, making a boisterous entrance.

Hall of Famer Cynthia Dettelbach was making her final appearance as editor of The Cleveland Jewish News, her retirement effective by the time you read this.

Former PD reporters Tom Andrzejewski, Don Bean, Bob Dolgan and Dick Zunt were on hand along with Fred McGunagle and Betty Klaric of the Press and legendary editors like Arnold Miller, Mike Roberts and Rich Osborne, who has crossed over to the publishing side. And how do you categorize Ned Whelan, former print and TV reporter turned author and public relations guru? That why he's in the HOF.

Photos of the event can be viewed online at http://tinyurl.com/qxbjln.

Two finalists for the Class of 2009 were also there -- two-time Pulitzer finalist columnist Regina Brett of the PD and author and former PD photographer Bill Wynne, who was recently inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

Bruce Hennes of Hennes Communications, chairman of the event, welcomed the Hall of Famers as did club president Ed Byers and vice president/programming Bonnie Godbey. Ron Syroid, president of the Press Club of Akron, acknowledged the new reciprocal arrangement between the two clubs, allowing members to attend each other's events at membership rates.

After that, the honored guests and friends did what journalists do so well – enjoying the drinks and free food supplied by Nighttown, home of the Press Club of Cleveland.

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Editor’s Note A new crop of Hall of Famers will be inducted this coming October. Members of The Press Club of Cleveland will receive their 2009 HOF ballots in June.