Given by RTVF, 1955 - 1984 (1997)
I. AWARDS GIVEN TO BROADCASTING, FILM & COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS.
A. AWARD OF BROADCASTING SERVICE. 1955 - 1969
This award was given annually (usually at the RTVF Banquet) to a Kansas or area
broadcaster who had demonstrated outstanding service to his/her community through the
programming and activities of the station or company.
1957 Vern Battin (WDAF) 1958 Olaf Soward (WIBW)
1959 Grover Cobb (KVGB) 1960 Robert Pratt (KGGF)
1961 Arden Booth (KLWN) 1962 Thad Sandstrom (WIBW)
1963 Robert Wells (KIUL) 1964 Robert Schmidt (KAYS)
l965 Max Falkenstein (WREN) 1966 Fred Conger (KWBW)
1967 Edward McKernan, Jr. (KVOE) 1968 Roderick Cupp (KOFO)
1969 Robert Hilgendorf (KVGB)
No awards were given from 1970-1979; no RTVF banquets were held.
B. THE 'GROVER COBB' AWARD FOR BROADCASTING SERVICE. 1980 - 1997.
The above award was continued in 1980, this time in the name of an outstanding Kansas
broadcaster, Grover Cobb. It continues to the present time (1998) and so all names are
listed below.
1980 Dale McCoy, (KKOY) 1981 Kay Melia (KLOE)
1982 Jerry Holley (WIBW-TV) 1983 Mike Oatman (KFDI)
1984 Bob Fromme (KC Chiefs) 1985 Ed & Zorabelle Hundley , (KLEY)
1986 Greg Gamer (KSNW) 1988 Howard Hill (KANU)
1989 Pat Powers, (KTPK) 1990 Martin Umansky (KAKE-TV)
1991 Tony Jewell (KIUL) 1992 Harriet Lange (KAB)
1993 Hank Booth (KLWN) 1994 Vernadell Yarrow, (KCLY)
1995 Stuart Melchert (KSCB) 1996 Richard Wartell, (KMAN)
1997 BoB Templeton (KAYS) 1998 Kent Cornish (KTKA-TV)
C. MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD.
The following professionals served on the Board at some time
between 1968 and 1993. The titles are those which were held at the time of service.
Anschutz, Wendall. News anchor, KCMO-TV, Kansas City, MO.
Bender, Gary. ABC Sports. Phoenix, AZ.
Booth, Arden. General Manager, KLWN, Lawrence, KS.
Chappell, Frank. Station Manager, KARD-TV, Wichita, KS.
Comstock, Heather. News, KMIZ-TV, Columbia, MO.
Dinovitz, Paul (Dino). General Manager, KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO.
Fortune, Darryll. Public Relations, United Telephone, Overland Park, KS.
Freund, Cathy. News Director, KARE-TV, Atchison, KS.
Funk-Linton, Kathleen. President, Funk-Linton Advertising, Topeka, KS.
Garrett, Bob. VP and General Manager, KYYS-FM, Kansas City, KS.
Harmon, Wm (Bill). President, The Harmon Group, Prairie Village, KS.
Holley, Jerry, VP, Stauffer Communications, Topeka, KS.
Holt, John, News reporter, KSNW-TV, Wichita, KS.
Kearns, Bob. Community Relations Director, WIBW-TV, Topeka, KS.
Koeppen, Cathy. Communications Specialist, Washington, D.C.
Larsen, Dale. General Manager, KTVH-TV, Wichita, KS.
Melendez, Eddie. Galavision, Los Angeles, CA.
Morgan, Larry, KGGO, Des Moines, IA.
Oatman, Mike, General Manager, KFDI, Wichita, KS.
Pandzik, Mike. President, National Cable Cooperative, Lenexa, KS.
Powers, Pat. General Manager, KTPK-FM, Topeka, KS.
Purdy, Brian. Station Manager, KCFX-FM, Overland Park, KS.
Ragan, Kevin. Ass't. News Director, KTAE-TV, Pittsburgh, PA.
Replogle, Kent. VP and General Manager, KMBC-TV, Kansas City, MO.
Robe, Mike. Writer, Director, Studio City, CA.
Roesler, Steve. General Manager, KJCK, Junction City, KS.
Russell, Robert. General Manager, KEWI, KSWT-TM, Topeka, KS.
Sampson, Jack. President, Sampson Communications, Hutchinson, KS.
Sandstrom, Thad. General Manager, WIBW-TV, Topeka, KS.
Sbarra, Don. General Manager, KARD-TV, Wichita, KS.
Schmidt, Robert (Bob). General Manager, KAYS-TV, Hays, KS.
Schockley, Terry. President, Station WOLX-FM, Madison, WI.
Simons, Dolph Jr. President, World Co., Lawrence, KS.
Slayton, Cyd. VPR Communications, Kansas City, MO.
Strader, Harry. General Manager, KTSB-TV, Topeka, KS.
Umansky, Martin. President & General Manager, KAKE-TV, Wichita, KS.
Velliquette, Brenda. Account Executive, KXKL, Denver, CO.
Walker, William (Bill). VP, Coronet Films, Chicago, IL.
Weir, Bud. Junction City Television, Junction City, KS.
Wells, Robert (Bob). VP Harris Enterprises, Garden City, KS.
Wilcox, Phil. Communication Services, Junction City, KS.
Wormington, Bob. General Manager, KSHB-TV, Kansas City, MO.
II AWARDS RELATING TO ALUMNI AND STUDENTS.
A. OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD. 1980 - 1997.
At the first "Telecommunications Day" in 1980, RTVF began an annual award to
go to an alumnus of the RTVF program. This award continues to the present time.
1980 Bill Kurtis* (Investigative reporting, documentary production.)
1981 Terry Shockley (Broadcast management.)
1982 Bill Harmon (Advertising, public relations.)
1983 Gary Bender (Sports reporting and play-by-play.)
1984 Mike Robe (Film writing, directing, production.)
1985 Bob Dotson (Feature news reporting, documentary.)
1986 Wendall Anschutz (Television news reporting, anchoring.)
1988 Bob Wormington (Broadcast management.)
1989 Dayna Eubanks (Television news reporting.)
1990 Ralph Butler (Television advertising.)
1991 Ramona Rush (Broadcast education.)
1992 Michael Pandzik (Cablevision management.)
1993 Patricia Cahill (Public Broadcasting management.)
1995 Kevin Harlan (Sports reporting and play-by-play.)
1996 Brian Bracco (News directing.)
1997 Roger Twibill (Sports reporting and play-by-play.)
*Bill Kurtis also received the William Allen White Foundation Award in 1998.
B. AWARDS TO STUDENTS. 1955 - 1981.
Awards were given to many students during these years. Unfortunately, the record is
very incomplete, and many names will be missing. For this, my apologies. Even so, it seems
appropriate to list the names that we do have on record.
Outstanding Seniors Through the School of Journalism, Majoring in RTVF:
( these awards were discontinued in 1981)
1956 Shirley Jones 1957 William Harmon 1958 Ardeth Nieman
1959 Dean Humphrey 1960 Anne Shaffer 1961 Alan Wuthnow
John Patten Rosa Lind
1962 Mark Knapp 1963 Gerald Smith, Ruth A James 1964 Mike Bush
Cynthia Lackie Carol Phillippi Steve Hagen
1965 Karen Layland 1966 Tom Rosenbaum 1967 Bill Mauk
John Erickson Penny Donaldson Connie Myers
1968 Robert Dotson 1969 Jim Mullen 1972 John Nixon
Jo Anna Shipley Everold Hosein Nann Goplerud
1981 John Holt
Rene Stutzman
Outstanding Seniors Through Speech and Drama, Majoring in RTVF:
(These awards also were discontinued in 1981)
1957 Ruth Daniels 1958 Carolyn Rouse 1959 KalaMays
Lew Boles
1960 Wm DeJarnette 1961 Colinda Austin
Beverly Baird
1962 Tandy Craig 1963 Gene Boomer 1964 James Porter
1965 John Nance 1966 James Hocker 1967 Gary Shivers
1968 Larry Seibel, 1969 Beverly Gibbs
Jo Ann Gresham Nelson Janis Everhart
1972 Barbara Vleisides 1981 Carolyn Valdevieso
Gregory Vleisides Michael Kelehar
Richard Harkness Award 1964 - 1982 (He was a network newsman and KU alum)
1964 Larry Schmidt 1965 Wendall Anshutz 1966 TomRosenbaum
1967 Robert Dotson 1968 Donn Pearlman 1969 Jim Mullen
1972 Steve Sanders 1973 Mary Loftus 1974 Paulett Pippert
1975 Ilze Zvirgzdins 1976 Cathy Freund 1977 Russ Groves
1978 John Mitchell 1979 Julie Nicolay 1980 Dave Grissom
1981 G Rene Stutzman 1982 Stacie Remmele, Gillian Logan, Jim Hawley, Rick Comfort
Alumni Scholarship - Outstanding Junior Student. 1964 - 1969.
1964 Karen Layland 1965 Bill Mauk 1966 Bob Dotson
1967 Barbara Musgrave 1968 Phillip Higdon 1969 Robert Newton
Fred Hesser Award. Given in memory of Fred Hesser, for excellence at KJHK.
1976 Cindy Hutter 1977 Bill Kempin 1978 Steve Doocey
1979 Brett Sayre 1982 Rachel Pirner, Sheila Dressman
Frank Stanton Award.
1972 John Alden 1975 Cindy Schoepner 1977 Dale Seuferling
1978 Walter Riker 1979 Keith Savedge
Outstanding Merit Awards. 1959 - 1979
Unfortunately the records are most incomplete for this award, especially for the years
after 1979.
1959 Lew Boles - film Fred Huff - film & TV Ann Shaffer - radio
Bill Schmidt - radio Eleanor Wilson - radio Ann Nichols - radio
Dean Humphrey - TV Kala Mays - TV Phil Morgan - TV
Bud Carter - TV
1960 Bill Walker - TV Bill DeJarnette - film/TV Robert Brooks - TV
Dave Holman - KUOK Rosa Lind - KUOK Al Wuthnow - KUOK
1961 Bill Walker - Film/TV James Lovelace - KUOK Larry Wagner - KUOK
David Walstrom - KUOK Robert Brooks - Film/TV Horton (Bill) Kurtis - TV
1962 Steve Hagen -KUOK James Welter - KUOK Robert Bush - KUOK
Ramona Rush - film Judy Southard - TV Judith Young - TV
1963 Gerald Smith - film Hoite Caston - film
1964 Mike Bush - KUOK John Nance - TV Karen Layland - KUOK
Gene Boomer - TV Lance Hayes - film
1965 Gene Boomer - film Hoite Caston - film
1966 Wm Mauk - KUOK Robert Dotson - KUOK Jo Gresham - KUOK
Mike Sheets - Radio
1967 Mike Lee - film Wendall Anschutz - film Donald McClow - KUOK
Michael Spencer - KUOK Robert Dotson - KUOK Wm Hamilton - KUOK
William Waller - KANU
1968 David Winegardner - KUOK James Mitchell - Radio William Mauk - service
1969 Jim Bird - film Faye Kuehn - TV Bruce Barley - KUOK
Fran Weidner - TV David Winegardner-KUOK Bill Hitchcock - KUOK
Bud Carter - TV
1972 Dave Morgenstern -film Mary Jo Shortridge-KUOK Bruce Mensie - KUOK
John Nixon - KUOK
1973 Steve Dick - film Mike Herzmark - film Jeff Pierce - film
Rebecca Parsons - KUOK
1975 Fred Hesser - KJHK Cathy Freund - KJHK Louise Henry - KJHK
Vicki Fincham - KJHK Richard Johnson - KJHK Dave Krobot - KJHK
1977 Marti Johnson - KJHK Bill Kempin - KJHK Dale Sueferling - KJHK
Bob Moody - KJHK Nancy Ray - KJHK Chris Carter - KJHK
Cindy Hutter - KJHK Charles Hoard - KJHK
1979 Barb Baellow - KJHK Sam Zeff - KJHK Phil Paulous - KJHK
Debbie Friedman - KJHK Mike Parent - KJHK
Special Service Awards. 1960 - 1977. (This list also is incomplete)
1960 Robert Smith, Robert Lynn, John Patten
1961 Ramona Rush, Mike Fitzwater, Rosa Lind, Colinda Austin
1962 Peter Haggart, Phil Lane, Charles (Gene) Boomer, Ruth Ann James, Larry Knupp,
Larry Wagner, Arnie Grundeman, Jack McCall
1963 Judy Southard, James Cormode, Clyde Kensinger, Tom Miller, John Nance,
Gerald Smith, James Porter, Mike Bush, Gary Bender, Terry Shockley, Phil Lane,
Larry Schmidt, Larry Wagner, Pete Wellington, Dale Puckett, Tom Clarkson, Tom Daniels
1964 Jane Turk, Gary Bender, Terry Shockley, Fax Robertson, Steve Williams, Bill Lynch,
Allen Kubik, Pete Wellington, Penny Gover, Dave Pomeroy, Brad Berentz,
Cheryl McCool, Hoite Caston
1965 Thomas Rosenbaum, Karen Layland, James Weaver, Penny Gover, Patrick Burke
1966 Scott Nelson, Donn Pearlman, Marilyn Mauden, Gary Shivers, Bill Hamilton,
Dan Kossoff, Tim Larson, John Nance, Janiece Bacon
1967 Wally May, Robert Wilson, Dennis McClatchey, Jo Anna Shipley
1968 Robert Wilson, Rick Shaffer, Robert Newton, Janice Clark, Allen Eagen, Charles
Berg
1969 Ron Cote, John Tibbets
1972 Rick Marsh, Don Murphy, Dave Stringer, Ron Sandhaus, Rick Weinstock
1973 David Chan, Mark Kochman
1975 Tim Pinkelman, Cindy Schoepner
1976 Gail Fitzwater, Frances Gatz, Rita Charlton, Bill Riss, Bill Kempin, Jim Thompson,
Connie Nusser, Terri Green, Steve Bissantz, Gordon Docking, Paul Hulse, Mike Finneran,
Cindy Hutter, Charles Tenney
1977 Pat Montgomery, Gary Leiberman, Mike Finneran, Doug Hundley, Bill Neff,
Chuck Smith, Susan Haight, Steve Doocey, Kirk Baxter, Carl Mattick,
Nancy Feldmann, Ted Culbertson, Duke Frye, Louise Fuzy, Rita Charlton,
John Funchess, Tim O'Neill, Phil Paulous, JanetTaylor, LeslieRoach,SteveSheve,
