About the Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame was created in 2001 to honor visionaries and innovators in the Wisconsin newspaper industry. Since then, 77 individuals have been recognized with the honor.
Hall of Fame nominations are open to anyone, living or deceased, who has contributed above and beyond the call of duty to newspapers and newspapering in Wisconsin. This includes publishers, editors, reporters, photographers or any other newspaper personnel who’ve made significant contributions to the newspaper industry.
It is expected that the individual should have dedicated at least 15 years of service to newspapering. Length of service by itself, however, is not expected to be a major determinant.
With the approval of the nomination committee, Hall of Fame induction may be extended to someone outside the working industry, such as an educator, jurist, attorney or legislator. The primary criterion is exceptional service on behalf of Wisconsin newspapers. Other criteria may be established or considered by the Hall of Fame selection committee or the WNAF Board as deemed appropriate or necessary.
If you have questions or would like more information regarding the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame, contact the WNA.
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association is accepting nominations for the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame class, which will be honored during a banquet on Thursday, March 11, 2027, at The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club during the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Convention.
2026 Hall of Fame Induction
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet took place on Thursday, March 5 at The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governors Club in downtown Madison. The event was held in conjunction with the 2026 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Convention and began at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner at 6 p.m.
- Former reporter and UW-Whitewater newspaper advisor Sam Martino
- Newspaper publisher Carlton DeWitt
- Former newspaper managing editor and current Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation President Scott Peterson
Hall of Fame Inductees
Scott Angus
Robert L. Angus
Vern Arendt
William R. Barth
Al Bauer, Jr.
William D. Behling
Robert Berglund
Marie Flynn Berner
Sidney H. ‘Skip’ Bliss
William E. Branen
Howard J. Brown
Emma Brown
C.W. Brown
Jim Burgess
Virginia Burtness
Dickey Chapelle
John B. Chapple
James Clifford
John D. Clifford
Rusty Cunningham
Scott M. Cutlip
Carlton DeWitt
Robert J. Dreps
Harland Everson
Helen Everson
Diane Everson
William T. Evjue
Kent Eymann
Bonnie Fechtner
Peter Fox
Gary Gaier
Charles “Chuck” Gauger
Ralph Goldsmith
Charles Graaskamp
William “Bill” Hale
Phil Haslanger
Lester Hawkes
Mark Hertzberg
William Dempster Hoard
William H. “Bill” Howe
Andrew Johnson
Marshall W. Johnston
Margaret “Meg” Jones
J. Anthony Josey
Martin Kaiser
Bill Knutson
Warren D. Leary, Jr.
Tim Lyke
Doug Lyke
Elliott Maraniss
Sam Martino
Jim McLoone
Nancy Mersereau
Willis Miller
V.I. Minahan
Phil Muench
Lucius W. Nieman
Carol O’Leary
J.A. O’Leary
Leo Pesch Jr.
Scott Peterson
Charles Roethe
George Rogers
William F. Schanen Jr.
Tom Schultz
Susan Shemanske
Wally Smetana
Palmer H. Sondreal
George Stanley
Larry Tobin
John B. Torinus Sr.
Donald P. Walker
Robert H. Wills
J. Martin (Murph) Wolman
Frank Wood
Robert Wright
