Explore our gallery of Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame members. Learn about how to make a nomination.
Hall of Fame Honorees
1981 Members

Bill Burchardt
Inducted: 1981 BILL BURCHARDT (1917-1992) made Oklahoma Today the top state magazine in the nation during his 22 years as editor (1957-79). Its many awards include the Trustees Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center. He edited the four...
Jo O. Ferguson
Inducted: 1981 JO O. FERGUSON (1889-1982) is another of the editorial giants coming from the ranks of community newspapers in Oklahoma. A state editor and publisher for more than 50 years, he wrote many editorials for the Pawnee Chief "even from a hospital bed, if...
Allan Muchmore
Inducted: 1981 ALLAN MUCHMORE (1915-1997) is the first person to ever serve as president of both major news media organizations, the Oklahoma Press Association and the Oklahoma Broadcasters Association. This double honor came from the high regard accorded him by both...
Lilian Newby
Inducted: 1981 LILIAN NEWBY (1943-1991) earned a prominent place in Oklahoma journalism history when she led the long and successful fight for a state shield law passed in 1974. A past president of the Oklahoma City professional chapter of the Society of Professional...
Robert V. Peterson
Inducted: 1981 ROBERT V. PETERSON (1904-1986) achieved success in four separate areas of journalism. He first distinguished himself with the Associated Press wire service, then as publisher of the Wewoka Times-Democrat and the Norman Transcript, as owner of the Durant...
Harry B. Rutledge
Inducted: 1981 HARRY B. RUTLEDGE (1900-1980) was one of the early graduates of the world's first journalism school at the University of Missouri. He was the first full-time manager of the Oklahoma Press Association (1928-32), developing it into a major organization of...
C. Ray Shaw
Inducted: 1981 C. RAY SHAW (1934-2009) began his career on the Oklahoma City Times while a student at the University of Oklahoma in the early 1950's. He worked with the Associated Press (1957-60) in Oklahoma City, Louisville and New York, the latter as news feature...
Glenn Shirley
Inducted: 1981 GLENN SHIRLEY (1916-2002) is one of Oklahoma's most prolific professional writers, with 15 published books and 800 articles and short stories published in 100 different magazines. Among his books are “Law West of Fort Smith” and “Pawnee Bill,” both...
How to Submit a Nomination
Selection Process

Honorees are selected by a committee comprised of hall of fame members, including its director, and distinguished leaders in journalism. The Selection Committee considers all nominations, both new ones and those held over from previous years, before selecting the honorees.
The 2024 Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame nominee submission deadline is Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
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