UO President Dave Frohnmayer, Robert Curry, father of NBC's Ann Curry, and Curry's favorite SOJC professor, Ken Metzler, gather to celebrate her achievements. Photo by Jack Liu

"Tonight we honor six alumni and faculty members who truly made a difference in their professional lives and their communities," he said. "And I know the difference the University of Oregon and the School of Journalism and Communication made in the lives of those who will be honored this evening."

Alumni inducted into the 2001 Hall of Achievement include Ann Curry, '78, of NBC's The Today Show; Everette Dennis, '64, former SOJC dean and currently Fordham University's Felix E. Larkin Distinguished Professor of Media and Communication Industries and Director of the Center for Communication; Eleanor Aldrich Forrester, '37, a force behind one of Oregon's distin guished newspaper families; Richard W. Johnston, '36, a founding editor of Sports Illustrated magazine; and Jonathan Marshall, MS '62, an Arizona newspaper publisher and philanthropist who is nationally recognized for his work on Freedom of Information.

A former faculty member also joined the ranks of the Hall of Achievement. W. F. G. Thacher taught the University's first copywriting class in 1917 and is credited with building the School's advertising program.

The Hall and Thacher families celebrate the induction of advertising faculty member W. F. G. Thacher. Photo by Jack Liu

In addition to celebrating inductees who have distinguished themselves in their careers, Dean Gleason announced a new Hall of Achievement Scholarship Fund, which will support future leaders in the field. "I imagine this dinner in future years, when every table will have one or more students who are attending this University as the result of a Hall of Achievement scholarship," he said. Ann Curry contributed the lead gift to kick off the scholarship program.

Former SOJC Dean Arnold Ismach recognized inductee Richard W. Johnston, describing him as one of the truly outstanding figures in modern journalism. "He was a sterling editor, really dedicated to the craft of writing; one who also was compassionate with young writers," Ismach said. "He brought them along, he coached them, he taught them--and I think that's one of his legacies." Professor Lauren Kessler accepted the award on behalf of Johnston, who died in 1981.
Eleanor Aldrich Forrester was introduced by her longtime friend and fellow SOJC graduate Marguerite Wright, '47. Wright described Forrester as a quiet force behind the newspaper family, one who is dedicated to journalistic responsibility and ethics. "Eleanor brought to newspapering a strong sense of needing to serve the public," she said.

Forrester's son, Mike, accepted the award on her behalf, pointing out that his mother was an unconventional choice for the Hall of Achievement because she was not an editor or a publisher. Rather, he said, she was an equal partner with his father, Bud Forrester. "She made sure the operation hung together," he said. "Her heart is with the field."

Betty Jean Hulteng, wife of former SOJC Dean John Hulteng, introduced inductee John Marshall, emphasizing his commitment to ethics and describing him as "a strong fighter for good causes." Steve Ryder, a member of the SOJC Journalism Advancement Council and a friend of Marshall, accepted the award on his behalf, sharing a message from Marshall: "We still love the University of Oregon and Eugene. I owe so much to the J-School."

Dean Tim Gleason (right) joins three former deans, Everette Dennis, '64, Arnold Ismach and Duncan McDonald, at this year's Hall of Achievement festivities. Everette Dennis was inducted into the Hall of Achievement. Photo by Jack Liu

Advertising professor Dave Koranda recognized inductee W. F. G. Thacher and thanked him for laying the foundation for the School's distinguished advertising program. In honor of his legacy, Koranda said, "We promise to do our best to carry on with a sense of dedication, forthrightness, integrity, thoroughness and wit with those students who have chosen to form a relationship with the School." Nancy Megan, Thacher's granddaughter, accepted the honor in his behalf. He died in 1972.

Former SOJC Dean Duncan McDonald introduced Everette Dennis, describing him as "a man with a mission."

Dennis thanked the SOJC for the award. "The University of Oregon School of Journalism is a great, grand conversation--one of the commanding heights of journalism education," he said. "We should all be very proud of it."

In introducing Ann Curry, professor emeritus Ken Metzler described the admiration he and his former student share for one another.

Curry's father, Bob, expressed her regret that she was unable to accept the award in person. "We suddenly live in extraordinary times," he read from her statement. "And it took the extraordinary--a war, an act of terrorism, an anthrax threat--to keep me from being with you." She said she was honored to be included in the University of Oregon Hall of Achievement. "I am humbled--humbled by the love of my family that made my dreams possible, humbled by the quality of learning at the University of Oregon that inspired me to become, with my father, the first in my family to graduate from college, and humbled mostly by the job. I love what I do, and I'm inspired to do more by this honor you give me tonight."

Her father's voice cracked as he thanked the SOJC faculty for turning his daughter, "a shy young person with a spark in her" into the successful news anchor she is today.

Read more about the Hall of Achievement inductees here.