{"id":4220,"date":"2026-09-06T10:37:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T14:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centralohiospj.org\/?page_id=4220"},"modified":"2026-09-23T14:55:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T18:55:07","slug":"our-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centralohiospj.org\/index.php\/about-us\/our-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Our History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

75+ years supporting Central Ohio journalism<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Key figures in the Chapter’s early history: founding members Ernest Cady (chapter president, 1949\u201350), left; Jacob A. Meckstroth (chapter president, 1950\u201352), center; and Norman H. Dohn (founding treasurer, later chapter president, 1957\u201358), right. Photos courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board & Officers <\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Bylaws <\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Our History<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Our History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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At a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1909<\/p>\n

SPJ founded nationally as Sigma Delta Chi<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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1949<\/p>\n

Central Ohio Chapter founded, the first professional SPJ chapter in Ohio; chapter bylaws adopted<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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1950<\/p>\n

Chapter formally chartered on April 25<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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1999<\/p>\n

Chapter celebrates its 50th anniversary<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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2011<\/p>\n

The Martys, a high school journalism contest, established in honor of Marty Rozenman<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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2023<\/p>\n

Columbus Journalists in Training (CJIT) program launched<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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2024<\/p>\n

Chapter celebrates its 75th anniversary<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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2025<\/p>\n

Chapter scholarships surpass $100,000 awarded since the program began<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Today<\/p>\n

Annual Founders’ Day banquet continues to honor the chapter’s founders and award scholarships<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Charter Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There were 19 founding members during the Chapter’s probationary year in 1949. These included six journalists from the Columbus Dispatch<\/em>, two from the Ohio State Journal<\/em> and one from the Columbus Citizen<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ernest Cady<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founding President<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Norman H. Dohn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founding Treasurer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Wayne V. Harsha<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founding Secretary<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n Laurence R. Conner<\/span>\n Harold Dakin<\/span>\n W. Dayle Fraizer<\/span>\n Richard L. Kennard<\/span>\n M.B. McCormick<\/span>\n Jacob A. Meckstroth<\/span>\n Karl B. Pauly<\/span>\n Garland C. Raines<\/span>\n Harold K. Schellenger<\/span>\n Frank A. Scheurger<\/span>\n Harry Shook<\/span>\n George A. Smallsreed Sr.<\/span>\n M. Douglas Talbot<\/span>\n Don E. Weaver<\/span>\n Claud A. Weimer<\/span>\n Preston Wolfe<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
View Past Chapter Presidents<\/summary>\n