"There were giants in the earth in those days..." --Genesis 6:4
There still are, and I am pleased and honored to be asked to walk with them when I receive the Milt Phillips award a week from today at the annual Oklahoma Press Association convention in OKC.
Not much of a giant here, just an aging former weekly newspaperman and college professor, who has been blessed. I am proud to be a newspaperman, a journalist, and blessed to know these Oklahoma journalists, and thousands of students at OSU and UCO in more than 30 years who have inspired me and kept me thinking young. It's been my pleasure and fortune to combine newspaper work with
teaching. The experience is a two-way street that makes me a
better teacher, and a better journalist.
Literal translation of "giants" in the King James version is more like "people of renown, of power, of influence." When I got the phone call from friend and OPA president, and UCO alum Robby Trammell earlier this spring, I was dumbfounded.
The Phillips award is OPA's highest, and in its long history since being founded in 1979, I will be only the second college professor to be so honored. Previously it went to my last mentor and friend Harry Heath at OSU, who forgot more about journalism than I know. I never dreamed I'd walk in that company.
All the other awards have gone to newspaper people, except one--to the late great Ben Blackstock who built OPA into the national model of press associations, and who was responsible for me coming back to Oklahoma years ago.
I've gone through the list of previous honorees, and know or have met about 25 of them. Many are friends. I am humbled and honored...walking with giants. I'm in tall cotton.
"My people"
I do know, as I tell my wife, that I'm most at home at OPA conventions, talking with newspaper people. I tell her, they're "My people."
I didn't know Milt, though I was newspapering
(that's a Clark verb) here when he was alive, but I know his son Ted and his
grandson Stu, who publishes the only all local news daily in the state.
It's many miles and years from walking the sidelines covering high school football for the Waurika News-Democrat,
and there are too many people to thank. I'll mention only my late
partner Donald J. Morrison of Waurika. And obviously my families, who are my main strength, and who are most important.
Here's the scoop on the Phillips Award, from the OPA website.
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| Milt Phillips |
The H. Milt Phillips Award is the highest honor given by the Oklahoma Press Association. The OPA Board of Directors selects the recipient based on publishing a high-quality newspaper; contribution to the profession and the newspaper industry; years of service to the community, state and nation in a variety of volunteer activities and strong love and dedication to the family.
The award was established in 1978 by the OPA Board of Directors to recognize those they felt gave the same quality of service to family, community, country and newspapers as had H. Milt Phillips.
"Honored by many, regarded by others, feared and disliked by the crafty and corrupt," is the way ‘Cluttered Corner’ Phillips was described by those who founded the award.
"Phillips was the kind of editor all editors should be," they wrote. "He was involved. He gave freely of his love and concern..."
H. Milt Phillips purchased the Seminole Producer in April 1946. Prior to beginning his newspaper career, he served as department adjutant of the Oklahoma American Legion and as editor of the Oklahoma Legionnaire.
He served for two years in the Navy during World War II and, after returning home, was appointed by Gov. Robert Kerr to reorganize war veteran services in Oklahoma.
Phillips became general manager of the Seminole Producer in 1946. In 1950, he and his brother Tom purchased the two newspapers in Wewoka and merged them into one publication. When Tom Phillips was diagnosed with cancer in 1955, the brothers sold the Wewoka paper. Milt Phillips and his son, Ted, then consolidated the two Seminole papers to form the Seminole Daily Producer.
Phillips was active in the Oklahoma Press Association, holding several offices including president in 1954.
He was widely known as a civic leader and statewide industrial booster. Phillips was a long-time member of the board of directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society and was the moving force in the historical society’s efforts to microfilm all Oklahoma newspapers.
The award was established in 1978 by the OPA Board of Directors to recognize those they felt gave the same quality of service to family, community, country and newspapers as had H. Milt Phillips.
"Honored by many, regarded by others, feared and disliked by the crafty and corrupt," is the way ‘Cluttered Corner’ Phillips was described by those who founded the award.
"Phillips was the kind of editor all editors should be," they wrote. "He was involved. He gave freely of his love and concern..."
H. Milt Phillips purchased the Seminole Producer in April 1946. Prior to beginning his newspaper career, he served as department adjutant of the Oklahoma American Legion and as editor of the Oklahoma Legionnaire.
He served for two years in the Navy during World War II and, after returning home, was appointed by Gov. Robert Kerr to reorganize war veteran services in Oklahoma.
Phillips became general manager of the Seminole Producer in 1946. In 1950, he and his brother Tom purchased the two newspapers in Wewoka and merged them into one publication. When Tom Phillips was diagnosed with cancer in 1955, the brothers sold the Wewoka paper. Milt Phillips and his son, Ted, then consolidated the two Seminole papers to form the Seminole Daily Producer.
Phillips was active in the Oklahoma Press Association, holding several offices including president in 1954.
He was widely known as a civic leader and statewide industrial booster. Phillips was a long-time member of the board of directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society and was the moving force in the historical society’s efforts to microfilm all Oklahoma newspapers.
And here's the list of previous honorees.
2014 Joe Worley, Tulsa World
2013 Ray Lokey, Johnston County Capital-Democrat
2012 Willis Choate, Marietta Monitor
2011 Tim Schnoebelen, The Mooreland Leader
2010 Gloria Trotter, The Countywide & Sun
2009 J. Leland Gourley, Oklahoma City Friday
2008 Tom Muchmore, Ponca City News
2007 Wayne Trotter, Tecumseh Countywide News
2006 Joe Hancock, Hobart Democrat-Chief
2005 John D. Montgomery, Purcell Register
2004 Ken Reid, Weatherford Daily News
2003 Bob Peterson, Durant Daily Democrat
2002 Robert E. Lorton, Tulsa World
2001 Don Ferrell, Lincoln County News
2000 Dave Story, Claremore Daily Progress
1999 Jim Mayo, Sequoyah County Times
1998 Ted Phillips, Seminole Producer
1997 Ed Burchfiel, Cordell Beacon
1996 Larry Hammer, Cherokee Messenger & Republican
1995 Larry Wade, Elk City News
1994 Joe W. McBride, Jr., Anadarko Daily News
1993 Francis Langdon, Tonkawa News
1992 D. Jo Ferguson, Pawnee Chief
1991 J. L. Jennings, Donrey Newspapers
1990 Jenkin L. Jones, Sr., Tulsa Tribune
1989 Dr. Harry Heath, Oklahoma State University, Journalism Professor
1988 Jim Bellatti, Stillwater NewsPress
1987 Ben Blackstock, OPA Manager
1986 Jim Pate, Madill Record
1985 Bill Ansley, Elk City Daily News
1984 Milo Watson, Perry Journal
1983 Bob Lee Kidd, Jr., Poteau News & Sun
1982 Charles Engleman, Clinton News
1981 Allan W. Muchmore, Ponca City News
1980 Ed Livermore, Sr., Sapulpa Herald
1979 James C. Nance, Purcell Register
Wow, what an honor and well deserved in my opinion. Congratulations Terry.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alan...somewhat unreal
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