2026 Hall of Fame Ceremony
The Denver Press Club Hall of Fame honors journalists and communicators who have given tremendous service to the Club or had a distinguished career in Colorado journalism. The Club inducts a handful of members into the Hall of Fame each year.
Tickets Available Now
THE EVENT
The Denver Press Club Hall of Fame is one of Colorado journalism’s most celebrated traditions. Join us for two extraordinary evenings honoring five luminaries who have shaped the stories of Colorado.
Thursday, May 14, 2026 — Honorees’ Reception 6:00 PM · Main floor · 1330 Glenarm Place, Denver.An intimate evening celebrating this year’s inductees with members, colleagues, and the public. Business casual. Full cash bar and appetizers by Snarfs.
Saturday, May 16, 2026 — Induction Ceremony 6:00 PM · 1330 Glenarm Place, Denver.The formal induction program upstairs, live simulcast lounge downstairs. Heavy deluxe appetizers upstairs by Mixers and Morsels. Light appetizers by Snarfs downstairs. Full cash bars on both floors. An evening unlike any other in Colorado journalism. Business formal.
TICKETS
Tickets for both events are now available now via the links above.
NEW: Induction Ceremony upstairs seated tickets now available.
This event is the Denver Press Club’s primary fundraiser. Every ticket sold supports our mission and our building.
SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsorship opportunities range from $2,500 to $7,500. Contact Katlyn Howery at Katlyn@denverpressclub.org or 303-571-5260.
HONOREES
Lee Ann Colacioppo
Lee Ann Colacioppo became the first female editor in chief of The Denver Post in 2016, following 17 years at the paper in roles including city editor, investigations editor, and news editor. She led the Post's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the 2012 Aurora shooting, receiving the most prestigious award in American journalism.
Alan Kania
Alan Kania wrapped up a 50-year career in print journalism as an adjunct journalism professor in Denver, a founding board member of the American chapter of the International Communications Forum, and Co-Director of the Southern African Media Alliance. He serves as the third historian of the Denver Press Club and is the author of The Denver Press Club: 150 Years of Printer's Devils, Bohemians, and Ghosts — the definitive account of the oldest press club in the country.
Sharon Linhart
Sharon Linhart founded Linhart Public Relations in January 1996 and built it over 30 years into one of Colorado's most respected and nationally recognized communications firms, earning awards from PRSA. Named one of the 50 Most Powerful People in Denver by 5280 Magazine, she has served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards and has PRSA Colorado's PR Person of the Year award named in her honor.
Linda Carpio Shapley
Linda Carpio Shapley served as The Denver Post's No. 2 newsroom executive in 2016–2017, overseeing news coverage by a staff of 110, and previously held roles as the paper's director of newsroom operations, design director, and copy editor over more than two decades. A two-time inductee into Colorado State University's media and journalism hall of fame, she most recently served as interim CEO of the Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation.
Jim Trotter
Jim Trotter is an Associate Editor of The Gazette in Colorado Springs, with a career spanning reporter, columnist, and editor roles at Rocky Mountain PBS, the Rocky Mountain News, the San Jose Mercury News, and the Sacramento Bee. A legendary newsroom leader, he is widely credited with helping build The Gazette's investigative and enterprise journalism capacity in Colorado Springs.
2024
Helen Richardson
A Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer at The Denver Post. She has been on assignment all over the world covering stories including the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Eddie Castro
A photojournalist whose career in TV news has spanned more than 40 years and three states.
He won numerous station Emmy awards, National Press Photographer Association’s Photographer Station of the Year, and an individual Emmy for breaking news on the Thornton, Colorado Walmart Shooting.
Pauline Rivera
The owner and publisher of La Voz, Denver’s first bilingual newspaper. She joined La Voz on contract in 2004 and, in three years, became General Manager. In 2008, she and her husband purchased La Voz and expanded statewide, winning numerous National Association of Hispanic Publicans (NAHP) awards, including Latina Publisher of the Year in 2016.
Bill Husted
A longtime Denver newspaper columnist and a fixture on Denver television for nearly 20 years. Bill first tried his hand at journalism in 1983. He caught on at the Rocky Mountain News as nightlife columnist, then society columnist, then city columnist. In 1996, he was lured away by the Denver Post, where he was the paper’s featured City Columnist through 2011.
Rick Sallinger
Posthumous award. He started reporting at CBS News Colorado in 1993. He won the George Foster Peabody Award, and was inducted into the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences "Silver Circle," a recognition of more than 25 years of journalism service.
2023
April Zesbaugh
A mainstay at KOA, Zesbaugh is one of the longest running radio news personalities in Denver.
Gil Asakawa
A journalist, author and blogger, Asakawa covers Japan, Japanese American and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) culture and identity in blogs, articles and social media.
Jim Benneman
The face of the evening news on CBS Colorado since 2002, Benemann's career as a Denver news anchor spanned 44 years to the TV news business and 36 years in local broadcasting.
Mike Nelson
In his 47 year career, Mike has won 20 Emmy awards for Weather Excellence, authored three books on weather and climate, and still continues to serve as Chief Meteorologist for Denver7.
2021
Sandra Dillard
A ground-breaker, Sandra was the first Black female reporter at The Denver Post, where she spent three decades in a variety of roles.
Rosalind "Bee" Harris
The founder, publisher and editor of the Denver Urban Spectrum newspaper, Bee provided an outlet to tell the stories about people of color that weren’t being told in the mainstream media.
Mike Littwin
A fixture in Denver for the past 25 years, Mike is a columnist for the Colorado Sun.
Kathy Walsh
A major presence on Denver’s TV screens for more than 35 years, Kathy was an award-winning, highly respected reporter and anchor at KCNC.
Alan Berg
Posthumous award. A man who spoke his mind, challenged assumptions, and relished a fight about ideas, the 850 KOA talk show host drew huge audiences even as he rubbed some people the wrong way. Neo-nazis murdered Berg in the driveway of his Denver home in 1984.
2019
Sam Adams
Former sportswriter at the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News
John Sunderland
Former director of photography for The Denver Post
Tina Griego
Managing editor at the Colorado Independent, former columnist for the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News
Mike Landess
Former television anchor at KUSA-TV, KDVR-TV and KMGH-TV
Bob Martin
Posthumous award, former play-by-play announcer for the Denver Broncos on KOA NewsRadio
2018
Jerry Bell
Managing editor of KOA NewsRadio
Greg Moore
Former editor of The Denver Post
Janet Reeves
Former director of photography at the Rocky Mountain News
Anne Trujillo
KMGH-TV News Anchor
John Temple
Former editor of the Rocky Mountain News
Lowell Thomas
Posthumous award; preeminent radio broadcaster and journalist.
2017
Adele Arakawa
Former KUSA-TV news anchor
Dean Singleton
Former publisher and owner of The Denver Post
Irv Moss
Sports writer who worked at The Denver Post for 60 years
Greg Dobbs
Former ABC News correspondent and Denver Post columnist
Craig F. Walker
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning photographer at The Denver Post
Frances Foster
Posthumous award; columnist for the Rocky Mountain News, wrote Mrs. Molly Mayfield, a forerunner of advice columns.
2016
Floyd Ciruli
Longtime Colorado public policy researcher and pollster.
Patti Dennis
Vice President of KUSA-TV and director of recruiting for TEGNA Media
Carl Miller
Capitol bureau reporter, columnist, capitol bureau chief and editorial page editor for The Denver Post.
Dave Krieger
Spent 30 years as a sports columnist for the Boulder Daily Camera, Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post
Mary Chase
Posthumous award, author of Harvey
2015
Lynn Bartels
Police reporter for the Rocky Mountain News
Mary Voelz Chandler
Arts critic & architecture reporter, Rocky Mountain News
Rich Clarkson
The Denver Post, National Geographic and Clarkson Creative
Mike Keefe
Denver Post cartoonist; won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, 2011.
Damon Runyon
Posthumous award, former Denver Press Club member and creator of Guys & Dolls
2014
Vincent Carroll
Longtime editorial page editor for the Rocky Mountain News until 2009; editorial page editor, The Denver Post, 2009-2016
Peggy Lowe
Longtime reporter for the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post; part of the Post team that won the Pulitzer for coverage of the Columbine High School massacre.
Mark Stutz
Longtime public relations and media relations guru, Xcel Energy.
Robert Threlkeld
Washington, D.C. reporter for the Rocky Mountain News during Watergate; also reported for The Denver Post.
Al Nakkula
Posthumous award. Police reporter for the Rocky Mountain News. The Press Club's award for police reporting is named for him.
2013
Eugene Field
Posthumous award. Editor, Denver Tribune, 1881-83; poet who wrote "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" and "Little Boy Blue" and once impersonated playwright Oscar Wilde (at left in photo).
Gary Gerhardt
Environment and local news reporter, Rocky Mountain News; covered the assassination of Alan Berg.
Michael Balfe Howard
Editor, Rocky Mountain News
Pocky Marranzino Sr.
Rocky Mountain News
Garrett Ray
Littleton Independent
Joseph S. Sinisi
The Denver Post
2012
Frederick G. Bonfils
The Denver Post
John Dunning
Author and journalist
Kevin Flynn
Rocky Mountain News
Carl Hilliard
Associated Press
Bertha Lynn
KMGH TV
Harry H. Tammen
The Denver Post
REMOVED: Father Woody (C.B. Woodrich)
Archdiocese of Denver – Removed: Woodrich, the longtime editor of Denver's archdiocesan newspaper and a highly visible regional spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Church, was credibly accused of child sex abuse through multiple claims substantiated by Colorado Attorney General Special Master Bob Troyer on Dec. 1, 2020. On Dec. 15, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Denver Press Club voted unanimously to remove Woodrich from the Hall of Fame. His name, and this information, remains here for the historical record.
2011
Bruce Goldberg
DPC president and associate editor at the Denver Business Journal
Ned High
Broadcasting and public relations veteran
Gwin Johnston
Founder of JohnstonWells Public Relations
Leonard “Buzz” Larsen
The Denver Post
Jean Otto
Formerly of the Rocky Mountain News
Polly Pry
Awarded posthumously. Denver Post investigative reporter, exposed abuses at the Fort Lewis Indian boarding school in 1903. Also wrote about Colorado's only convicted cannibal, Alfred Packer, helping him win a pardon.
2010
William Byers
Founder of the Rocky Mountain News
Bill Daniels
Cable pioneer
Cynthia Hessin
Reporter and anchor for Rocky Mountain PBS
Mike McPhee
Reporter for The Denver Post
Greg Pearson
Journalism professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver
Neil Westergaard
Editor for the Denver Business Journal
2009
Red Fenwick
"Ridin' the Range" reporter for The Denver Post
Dick Kreck
Columnist for The Denver Post
Harry Rhoads
Photographer for the Rocky Mountain News
Marilyn Robinson
Reporter for The Denver Post
Paula Woodward
Investigative reporter for 9News KUSA TV
2008
Denny Dressman
Sports editor and vice president of human resources for the Rocky Mountain News, past DPC president
Jack Foster
Editor for the Rocky Mountain News
Gil Spencer
Editor of The Denver Post, New York Daily News and Philadelphia Daily News
Joan White
Reporter and editor for the Denver Post
Dick Woodbury
Denver correspondent for Time, reporter for the Denver Post
2007
Helen Bonfils
Publisher of The Denver Post
Patricia Calhoun
Co-founder, publisher and editor of Westword
John Ensslin
Reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, past DPC president
Jack Kisling
Reporter and columnist for The Denver Post
George Lane
Reporter for The Denver Post
2006
Peter Blake
Reporter and political columnist for the Rocky Mountain News
Joe Fuentes
Reporter for the Rocky Mountain News and public relations professional
Cle Cervi Symons
Editor of Cervi's Journal and former Denver Woman's Press Club president
Starr Yelland
Anchor and broadcast pioneer for KMGH-Channel 7
2005
Carl Akers
Bio here
Lou Kilzer
Bio here
Bill Kostka, Jr.
Bio here
Bill Peery
Bio here
2004
Dan Gibson
Bio here
Greg Lopez
Bio here
Roger Ogden
Bio here
Pat Oliphant
Bio here
Ed Stein
Bio here
2003
Fred Brown
Reporter, editor and columnist at the Denver Post, 1963 to 2002. Regarded as one of the nation's top experts on media ethics.
Jim Conrad
Twin brother of Paul Conrad, longtime commercial artist in Denver.
Virginia Culver
Longtime religion writer for The Denver Post.
Sue O’Brien
First woman to serve as a television news editor in Denver and first woman editor of The Denver Post's editorial page. Prior to joining the Post, she was a tenured faculty member in the University of Colorado Boulder journalism school, and served as press secretary to Gov. Richard Lamm and managed the campaign for Gov. Roy Romer.
2002
Tom Pade
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Joe McGowan, Jr.
Bureau chief for the Associated Press, Denver. When he worked for AP in India, he introduced the world to Mother Theresa.
Ralph Moore
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Ed Sardella
Longtime anchor and reporter for 9News (originally, KBTV, now KUSA), Denver.
2001
Paul Conrad
Three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist, he won the Denver Post's first Pulitzer in 1964. He won two more for the Los Angeles Times and was a finalist twice more.
Thomas Hornsby Ferrill
Colorado's first poet laureate and prolific author, Ferrill was a Press Club regular. The honored back table in the dining room is named after him. His poem "Here is a Land Where Life is Written in Water" can be found as part of a mural on the first floor of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
Edwin Palmer Hoyt
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Jean Tool
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
2000
Lee Casey
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Hall Heffron
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Ivan Rosenberg
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Zeke Scher
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
1999
Isabelle Holmes
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor
Sam Lusky
City editor of the Rocky Mountain News. Dusty Saunders called him the "Rocky's version of Lou Grant."
Dusty Saunders
Longtime entertainment critic for the Rocky Mountain News and one of the nation's top entertainment reporters.