Key figures in the Chapter’s early history: founding members Ernest Cady (chapter president, 1949–50), left; Jacob A. Meckstroth (chapter president, 1950–52), center; and Norman H. Dohn (founding treasurer, later chapter president, 1957–58), right. Photos courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch.
The Central Ohio Chapter was founded in 1949 in Columbus and formally chartered on April 25, 1950. It was the first professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists established in Ohio.
At a Glance
1909
SPJ founded nationally as Sigma Delta Chi
1949
Central Ohio Chapter founded, the first professional SPJ chapter in Ohio; chapter bylaws adopted
1950
Chapter formally chartered on April 25
1999
Chapter celebrates its 50th anniversary
2011
The Martys, a high school journalism contest, established in honor of Marty Rozenman
2023
Columbus Journalists in Training (CJIT) program launched
2024
Chapter celebrates its 75th anniversary
2025
Chapter scholarships surpass $100,000 awarded since the program began
Today
Annual Founders’ Day banquet continues to honor the chapter’s founders and award scholarships
Charter Members
There were 19 founding members during the Chapter’s probationary year in 1949. These included six journalists from the Columbus Dispatch, two from the Ohio State Journal and one from the Columbus Citizen. Others in the original group included two recent Ohio State University graduates who had been members of the campus chapter and were just settling into professional jobs.
Ernest Cady
Founding President
Norman H. Dohn
Founding Treasurer
Wayne V. Harsha
Founding Secretary
Laurence R. ConnerHarold DakinW. Dayle FraizerRichard L. KennardM.B. McCormickJacob A. MeckstrothKarl B. PaulyGarland C. RainesHarold K. SchellengerFrank A. ScheurgerHarry ShookGeorge A. Smallsreed Sr.M. Douglas TalbotDon E. WeaverClaud A. WeimerPreston Wolfe
View Past Chapter Presidents
Ernest Cady, 1949-50;
Jacob A. Meckstroth, 1950-52;
Harold K. Schellenger, 1952-53;
George A. Smallsreed, Sr., 1953-55;
Brady Black, 1955-56;
William J. Oertel, 1956-57;
Dr. Norman H. Dohn, 1957-58;
Burdette (Bud) Johns, 1958-59;
Walter W. Furniss, 1959-60;
Edwin L. McCoy, 1960-61;
Haskell P. Short, 1961-62;
Melvin C. Koch, 1962-63;
Monroe Courtright, 1963-64;
Clarence J. Brown, 1964-65;
H.W. (Sam) Perdue, 1965-66;
Winfred (Bill) Arthurs, 1966-67;
Arthur W. Myers, 1967-68;
Carl Ebright, 1968-69;
James R. Hunkler, 1969-70;
Paul J. Sherlock, 1970-71;
Louis V. Fabro, 1971-72;
Willard (Bill) Potter, Jr., 1972-73;
George R. Roberts, 1973-74;
William S. Patterson, 1974-75;
John M. Mountain, 1975-76;
Anthony Mangine, Jr., 1976-77;
Thomas E. LaRochelle, 1977-78;
David Lore, 1978-79;
Noreen Johnson, 1979-80;
Michael E. Collins, 1980-81;
Diane Duston, 1981 (4 months);
Michael E. Collins, 1981-82;
Ted Virostko, 1982-83;
Barbara A. Kaufmann, 1983-84;
Bob Drumheller, 1984-85;
Robert C. Tenenbaum, 1985-86;
Adrienne Bosworth Chafetz, 1986-87;
Thomas A. Schwartz, 1987-88;
James Breiner, 1988-89;
Kathy Gray, 1989-90;
Marilyn Greenwald, 1990-91;
Pat Schmucki, 1991-92;
Beth Gianforcaro, 1992-93;
Mary Beth Lane, 1993-94;
Bruce Cadwallader, 1994-95;
Sarah Mills Bacha, 1995-96;
Katie Foley, 1996-97;
Phil Rudell, 1997-98;
Joe McKnight, 1998-99;
Julie Truck, 1999 (6 months);
Gary Kiefer, 1999-2001;
Rose Hume, 2001-02;
Chuck Nelson, 2002-03;
Paul Kostyu, 2003-04;
Robin Hepler, 2004-05;
Joe Meyer, 2005-06;
Brian Ball, 2006-07;
F. Michael Lorz, 2007-08;
Jennifer Monnin, 2008-09;
Kevin Kemper, 2009-10;
Katy Waters, 2010-2011;
Julanne Hohbach, 2011-2012;
Eric Lyttle, 2012-2013;
Beth Gianforcaro, 2013-2014;
Sarah Mills Bacha, 2014-2015;
Joe Meyer, 2015-2016;
Doug Buchanan, 2016-17;
Kevin Z. Smith, 2017-19;
Garth Bishop, 2019-21;
Hayleigh Colombo, 2021-23;
Eleanor Kennedy, 2023-2025;
Mikel Livingston, 2025-present.
Today
Today, Central Ohio SPJ carries that founding mission forward — recognizing excellence in local journalism through its annual awards program, supporting the next generation of Ohio storytellers with more than $100,000 in scholarships awarded to date, and pairing high school students with working journalists through the Columbus Journalists in Training program.
Each spring, the chapter’s Founders’ Day banquet still brings the local journalism community together to celebrate the year’s best work — the same spirit of connection and mentorship that brought 19 charter members together in 1949.
Members of the Central Ohio Chapter Board of Directors for 2021-2022
