The University of Central Oklahoma is a proud contributor to the ethos of ethical and engaged citizenry in our country. Fulfilling our mission to educate students to recognize truth and learn to reason, we answer the call to step into the stream of freedom we so fervently exercise and defend. The university provides an environment in which students can learn about and harness the power of journalism to shape a more just society without interference from the government. This is a right and a responsibility we must nurture with great care.

The Bob Burke First Amendment Center in UCO’s Mass Communication Building on campus displays the salient words of the First Amendment written by James Madison. These words provide the foundation for the respected work of our Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame honorees. Bob Burke is among the nearly 500 members and Lifetime Achievement honorees of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. Dr. Ray Tassin and Mr. Dennie Hall founded the Hall of Fame at UCO, which the university has proudly sponsored for 50 years.

Several of our alumni have earned their way into this Hall of Fame including UCO’s Edith Kinney Gaylord Endowed Chair of Journalism Ethics Joe Hight, who also serves as the Hall of Fame director, and the great columnist Tim Chavez, who became a member in 2020.  Journalism legends Will Rogers, Roscoe Dunjee, Allice Marriott, and Wayne and Gloria Trotter paved the way for this year’s honorees.  These newest inductees have demonstrated unflagging commitment to our Constitution and the highest standards of journalistic integrity.  They have indeed given voice to the voiceless.

The University of Central Oklahoma is proud to welcome the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame class of 2021.

Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar, President
University of Central Oklahoma