Monday, December 21, 2009

Guess Who's Headin' for the Hall of Fame?

Your favorite editor has before him at this moment a letter from the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame informing him that, by a unanimous vote, he has been selected for induction into the class of 2010. Third time's the charm with this one, since I'd been nominated twice before. And I'm tickled &#%@-less. Heh, heh, heh ...

This is quite a deal because among the 112 members (through 2008) are Douglas Southall Freeman, Roger Mudd, Tom Wolfe, Ann Compton, James J. Kilpatrick, Russell Baker (NYTimes columnist), Paul Duke (AP), Earl Hamner, Willard Scott, Max Robinson (ABC), Lloyd Dobbins (NBC) and David Baldacci.

I absolutely don't deserve to be in that company, but I'll take it and I'll celebrate it on April 1 (how appropriate) when I get to put on a tux and pick up the hardware in Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University has been the sponsor of the designation, which began in 1986.

Four other Roanokers (Frosty Landon and Buster Carrico of a local daily, radio broadcaster Herm Reavis and TV heavyweight John Harkrader) are members. You might also want to count Ann Compton, since she went to Hollins University in Roanoke and worked for WDBJ-TV.

11 comments:

  1. Congrats Dan! That's fantastic!

    I also heard a rumor you've been tapped as the next editor of the neighborhood newsletter. Two life-affirming honors in one week...how do you stay so grounded?

    Best and Merry Christmas,
    Chad

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  2. Chad: Yeah, that newsletter gig could be a career highlight. I did one for AA and it was a crowning achievement.

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  3. This is beyond wonderful Congratulations!

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  4. Congratulations! That's spectacular!

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  5. That's terrific, and you definitely deserve it! Congratulations :-)

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  6. Attaboy! Congrats - and well deserved. Can't wait to see you on stage. Do you get to make an acceptance speech? That should be priceless.

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  7. Hey, thank you all. This will be fun. Not sure about the acceptance speech, but I get to wear this medallion that looks like a Nobel. I'll tell everybody I won a Nobel. Me'n my home Barack ... both undeserving. (If I do get to say anything, I'll probably mention that I'm not especially comfortable being in a group that includes Ken Tomlinson, the former head of public broadcasting--under Bush--who tried to kill it; but I do like being in there with all those celebs.)

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  8. Three cheers, and surely a few more!! Merry christmas to you and Christine!!

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  9. Eldon: Don't tell Christina I told you her name is Christina. She's sensitive about it. Thanks for the good wishes. Hope your Christmas is grand.

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