Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame
The Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have rendered outstanding service in the field of newspaper journalism in Florida.
Nominations to the Hall of Fame are accepted any time, but the deadline for consideration in the current year is April 1. Learn how to submit a nomination.
| Name: | Inducted: | About: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Corbin Wyant |
2006 |
Before retiring June 30, 2002, Corbin had been active in Florida newspapering since 1974 and in the newspaper business elsewhere from 1958 to 1973. He served as publisher of the Daily News Herald in Punta Gorda from 1974 to 1976. During that time he also was publisher of the weekly Englewood Herald. From 1977 until his retirement, he served the Naples Daily News as vice president and general manager (1977-85), publisher (1985-2002) and president (1986-2002). |
Read more about Corbin Wyant |
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Derek Dunn-Rankin |
2005 |
Derek Dunn-Rankin started his newspaper career as a paperboy for the Miami News. He worked his way up the management ladder there, at various newspapers in North Carolina, and then at the Norfolk Pilot, ultimately serving as President. He was Vice President of Landmark Community Newspapers before his return to Florida in 1977. |
Read more about Derek Dunn-Rankin |
 |
Alvah Chapman, Jr. |
2004 |
Alvah H Chapman Jr.’s vision as a newspaper executive cemented the role of The Miami Herald as a powerhouse of Florida journalism and has had a lasting imprint on the business of journalism nationwide. Chapman was among the first of a “new breed” of newspaper executives who realized that having profitable business operations was the only way to assure journalistic independence. |
Read more about Alvah Chapman, Jr. |
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Eric Simpson |
2003 |
In April 1951, Simpson founded the weekly newspaper to report on news and developments of Blacks in Northeast Florida at a time when most newspapers ignored the Black community. Upon his death on January 9, 1994, The Florida Star was the second largest African-American weekly in the state. |
Read more about Eric Simpson |
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Elven Grubbs |
2002 |
Elven Grubbs’ newspaper career spanned 40 years from his job as a pressman with the Ocala Star Banner in 1947 until his retirement in February 1992 as publisher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. |
Read more about Elven Grubbs |
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H.G. Davis |
2001 |
H.G. “Buddy” Davis was an outstanding faculty member at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications for 31 years. A gifted instructor, he ran many of his reporting, editorial and photography classes like a newsroom to give students a sense of the real world. |
Read more about H.G. Davis |
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Vince Spezzanno |
2000 |
Vince Spezzano began his 41-year newspaper career in 1950 as a reporter for the Livingston Republican in Geneseo, N.Y. He worked at newspapers in Lynchburg, Va. and St. Louis, Mo, and in 1963 became director of public service for Gannett Times-Union and Democrat, and Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y. |
Read more about Vince Spezzanno |
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Nina Hawkins |
1999 |
Nina Hawkins was a pioneering woman editor for The St. Augustine Record and a leader in encouraging women newspaper journalists. |
Read more about Nina Hawkins |
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John Schumann, Sr. |
1998 |
Schumann served over 68 years in the newspaper business and he founded and led the Vero Beach Press-Journal from an outstanding weekly to an outstanding daily publication. He was very active in the state and national press associations and the Press-Journal was recognized as a leader in the industry. |
Read more about John Schumann, Sr. |
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Eugene Patterson |
1997 |
Patterson had more than 40 years experience in the publishing field. His journalistic talents earned him the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 1966 and the William Allen White National Award for journalistic merit in 1980. |
Read more about Eugene Patterson |