Left to right: Drex Heikes, '75, accepts for Randy Shilts, '75; Richard McDonald accepts for Lucile McDonald, '19; Fred Taylor, '50; Edwin L. Artzt, '51; Maurine Neuberger, accepts for her husband, US Sen. Richard Neuberger, '35; Don Belding, Jr., accepts for his father, Don Belding, '19; The Hon. Alfred T. Goodwin, '47, JD '51; Audrey McCall, accepts for her husband, Gov. Tom McCall, '36; Neil Fitzgerald, accepts for E. Palmer Hoyt, '23; and Jean Duncan accepts for Charles Duncan. Paul Brainerd, UO '70, and Helen Angell Kitchen, '42 were unable to attend.

More than 200 former students, faculty members and industry professionals gathered to commemorate the lifetime achievements of the inaugural class of the School of Journalism and Communication Hall of Achievement on Oct. 22 at the Valley River Inn. Pride in the state of Oregon and the fine work turned out by so many graduates of the SOJC was the order of the evening's event sponsored by The Register-Guard.

From a pool of more than 70 nominees, 14 inductees were chosen for their career accomplishments and their contributions to their communities. The honorees are Eric Allen, Ed Artzt ,'51, Don Belding, '19, Paul Brainerd, '70, Charles Duncan, The Hon. Alfred T. Goodwin, '47, J.D. '51, E. Palmer Hoyt, '23, Helen Angell Kitchen, '42, Gov. Tom McCall, '36, Lucile McDonald, '19, Sen. Richard Neuberger, '35, Randy Shilts, '75, Fred Taylor, '50, and George Turnbull.

"The achievement of (the School's) graduates and those who attribute their professional beginnings and later their success to the discipline of learning, of putting words together in order to ignite ideas, is quite astonishing and should be flattering to all of you," said University President Dave Frohnmayer. "To those who came before us and contributed to this legacy -- those who fundamentally we honor tonight -- I am honestly, genuinely proud to be among you tonight."

"This is a room full of extraordinary people whose support of this school is truly transformative..." -- Tim Gleason

Tim Gleason, dean of the School, noted in the event bulletin, "In a time when we are engaged in a national conversation about ethics in journalism and other professions, we gather to honor 14 individuals whose commitment to excellence, integrity, professionalism and serving the public good is beyond question."

The evening was filled with laughter and tears as the lives of many of the inductees were celebrated and remembered with respect. Upon receiving his award, Ed Artzt shared an anecdote about fellow inductee Charles Duncan, who died in 1997.

"In 1996, I was privileged to receive the University of Oregon Pioneer Award in Portland, and hadn't seen Charles Duncan in many, many years," Artzt told the audience. "And although he was ill and failing, he came to that meeting, and I couldn't resist the temptation that had been welling up inside of me for so long. I went up to Professor Duncan and I said ... "Why did you give me a B? And he said, 'You know, I remember that. It was because your work wasn't quite good enough.' And that had been gnawing away at me and motivating me in the way that people like Charles Duncan and others in this great institution were able to convey to students who were fortunate enough to toil in the vineyard, so to speak, of such great people. So I'm honored to receive this award and especially to receive it at the same time as Charles Duncan."

Gleason thanked The Register-Guard and the Baker family for their leadership gift to the Allen Hall Building Fund, which will make possible the construction of the Hall of Achievement seminar room in the building's west wing. Gleason also noted the School's Journalism Advancement Council, whose support and contributions made the first annual Hall of Achievement a reality.

Gleason said he looks forward to the induction of many of the other nominees in coming years, explaining how difficult the selection process was for him and the other members of the 1997/98 Selection Committee, which included Tony Baker, publisher of The Register-Guard; Bruce Cappelli, president of Cappelli/Miles/Wiltz/Kelly; Jack Hart, managing editor of The Oregonian; Bill Hunter, past president of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, Anita Johnson, owner of the Eugene Weekly; Lauren Kessler, SOJC professor; Esther Nelson, product and brand communications regional director for US West; Karl Nestvold, SOJC emeritus professor; and Jack Orchard, attorney at Ball Janik LLP.

"This is a room full of extraordinary people whose support of this school is truly transformative," Gleason said. "You all have made possible the high-quality learning experience that is the School of Journalism and Communication, and we thank you all."

See also: Inductee Profiles.