Distinguished Service Award Recipients – 1974-Present

The Central Ohio SPJ award for Distinguished Service is for a member of the chapter who demonstrates professional excellence and dedication to SPJ.

2026 – No award given

2025 – Eleanor Kennedy, The Columbus Dispatch, and Hayleigh Colombo, Columbus Business First, for their past service as chapter presidents

2024 – Susan Post, Columbus Underground, for her service as chapter treasurer

2023 – No award given

2021 – Garth Bishop, for his service as chapter president

2020 – No ceremony due to Covid-19

2019 – Doug Buchanan, past chapter president and editor in chief of Columbus Business First; Joe Meyer, past chapter president, owner of Meyer Media and former editor of ThisWeek Community News and Suburban News Publications; and Kevin Z. Smith, former chapter president and director of the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at Ohio University

2018 – Bruce Cadwallader, past chapter president, community outreach director at Franklin County Children’s Services and former courts reporter at The Columbus Dispatch

2017 – Doug Buchanan, managing editor/digital for Columbus Business First

2016 – Doug Buchanan, managing editor/digital for Columbus Business First

2015 – Kevin Z. Smith, Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism

2014 – Beth Gianforcaro and Philip Rudell, past chapter presidents

2013 – Eric Lyttle, Columbus Dispatch, past president

2012 – Julanne Hohbach, Columbus C.E.O., past president, and Sarah Mills-Bacha, SMB Communications, past president and longtime board member

2011 – Joe Meyer, Suburban News Publications, and Katy Waters, Columbus Business First, past presidents

2010 – Robin Hepler, past chapter president, and Jennifer Monnin, past chapter president

2009 – F. Michael Lorz, past chapter president

2008 – Brian R. Ball, past chapter president, and David W. Richter, past chapter board member

2007 – Jennifer Davis and Kirk Richards, past chapter board members

2006 – Martin L. Rozenman, past chapter board member

2005 – Bruce Cadwallader, past chapter president and national Legal Defense Fund chairman

2004 – Gary Kiefer and Chuck Nelson, The Columbus Dispatch, past chapter presidents

2003 – Rose Hume, OSU chapter adviser and past chapter president

2002 – Katie Foley, past chapter president, and Paul Kostyu, board member

2001 – Joe McKnight and Sarah Mills Bacha, past chapter presidents

2000 – Jeff Botti, past chapter board member

1999 – Phil Rudell, past chapter president

1998 – Marilyn Greenwald, chapter board member and OU chapter adviser

1997 – Jim Toms, publisher of Suburban News Publications and past board member

1996 – Pat Schmucki, past chapter president

1995 – Beth Gianforcaro, past chapter president

1994 – Mary Beth Lane, past chapter president

1993 – Norman Dohn, Ohio University journalism professor and a chapter founder

1992 – Ralph Izard, director of Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism

1991 – Dr. Walter Bunge, director of the Ohio State University School of Journalism

1990 – Thomas A. Schwartz, past chapter president and OSU journalism professor

1989 – Carl L. Ebright, former assistant to the executive editor at The Columbus Dispatch

1988 – Wayne V. Harsha, a founding member of the chapter, and Pat Schmucki, past chapter president

1986 – Tim Puet, Associated Press and chapter board member

1982 – David Lore, past chapter president and national convention chairman

1980 – Ernest Cady, retired book editor at The Columbus Dispatch and first president of the chapter

1978 – Arthur W. Myers, assistant manager at Battelle Memorial Institute

1977 – Jim Hunkler, director of public relations for Battelle and past chapter president

1974 – Macy M. ”Boots” Carothers, longtime editor of the Ohio American Legion newspaper

Other winners:
Noreen Johnson, the first woman to serve as a director and chapter officer