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Wayne Davis wins Schwartz Award

Wayne Davis, a former community journalist and retired journalism professor, has been chosen to receive the 2005 Schwartz Award, the Greenlee School's highest honor for distinguished service to journalism and mass communication.

Each year the Greenlee School requests nominees for its annual award from members of the Greenlee Advisory Council and faculty. The faculty select a winner from a list of nominees.

This prestigious award is named after James W. Schwartz, who earned a bachelor's of science in agriculture journalism in 1941 and went on to chair the department from 1965-1977. He also served as president of the Association for Education in Journalism.

When notified of this year's award recipient, Schwartz wrote in an email:

"It pleases me immensely to know that Wayne Davis, who built a solid career in the journalism field closest to my heart, weekly newspapering, will be receiving the Schwartz Award this year. He will join a roster of other outstanding recipients–-among them Hugh Sidey, Bob Bartley, Frank Byrnes and Leo Mores–-who either began their careers in the community newspaper business or made of it a lifetime calling. 

"Wayne is not only an accomplished journalist," Schwartz added, "he is a great guy as well."

After graduating from the University of Missouri, Davis worked as news editor for the Albia Times Republican and Monroe County News.

Soon after he was drafted into the Army in 1945. After 22 months in the military, he worked briefly in northern Minnesota at the Mille Lacs Messenger. His next, and last, newspapering job was with the Seymour Herald, where he worked from 1947-1977.

"Nothing could have prepared me for the news of my selection to receive the Schwartz Award from the Greenlee School," said Davis, who lives in Ames. "But I have always been ready to sing the praises of Iowa State's journalism program since I was able to reap its benefits both as a student and as a 10-year temporary faculty member and staffer."

When Davis came to the Iowa State Center in 1977, as a practitioner, he enrolled in the journalism department's master's program "to learn more about how to carry out my duties in public relations, marketing and sales," he recalled. "Certainly not a traditional student, I was able to tailor my courses to help me in my new career, earn the degree, and retire in 1987."

The 2005 Schwartz Award will be presented to Davis at homecoming on Oct. 22. 

"Homecoming is always special," said Greenlee Director Michael Bugeja. "But this year for the Greenlee School it will be more so, because we are planning events around that date for our year-long Centennial celebration."

Bugeja added it is only fitting that Davis should be this year's selection.

"Wayne Davis served former chairs Tom Emmerson and Jane Peterson admirably and helped influence our culture of service to the community."

Davis is an honorary member of the School's Advisory Council.

Past Schwartz Award winner Bill Monroe, chair of the Greenlee Advisory Council and executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, said, "I have admired Wayne as a community newspaper publisher, as a member of Iowa Newspaper Foundation Board, as an instructor at the Greenlee School and as a member of the Advisory Council.

"I have been impressed with him in each of these roles," Monroe said. "I couldn't think of a better choice."

For a list of past winners, visit http://www.jlmc.iastate.edu/centennial/schwartz.shtml.

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Last updated: April 27, 2005
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