Hall of Fame Honorees

Each year, the Friends of the Texan, Inc. recognizes outstanding graduates of The Daily Texan. That list includes former Texan staffers who have achieved great success in their careers, whether in media or any other endeavor. They are honored at an annual banquet held each year in The Texas Union’s Shirley Bird Perry Ballroom.

Awards are also granted to Rising Star honorees who are just beginning their career.

And a special award named in honor of well-known and respected journalist and professor S. Griffin (Griff) Singer honors an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to The Daily Texan and journalism overall.

2024 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Bill and Ann Harrell Stringer
Gloria Brown Anderson
Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez
Garry Leavell
Scott Alan Tagliarino
Nuri Vallbona
Frank Denton

Griff Singer Award
Rusty Todd

Rising Star Award
Eleanor Dearman
Ellie Breed

2023 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Cliff Avery
Kirk Bohls
Lynne Dobson
Cyndi Taylor Krier
Lynn Lunsford
Quin Mathews
Mark McKinnon
Mark Morrison
David Powell

Griff Singer Award
Wanda Cash

Rising Star Award
Samantha Ketterer
Forrest Milburn
Allyson Waller

2021 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Martin Crutsinger
Sam Keach
Dave McNeely
John Moore
John Reetz
Krissah Williams Thompson

Griff Singer Award
Fernando Dovalina

Rising Star Award
Cassandra Jaramillo
Kelsey McKinney
Maria Mendez

2020 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Laura Beil
Richard Cole
David DeVoss
Bill Little
Renae Merle
John McConnico
Jean-Marc Bouju

Griff Singer Award
Art Rinn
Dolores Moore Ebert Rinn

Rising Star Award
Abby Johnston

2019 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Hartley Hampton
Randy Harvey
Dr. Leon McNealy
Sylvan Rodriguez
John Schwartz
Janice Tomlin
Judy Walgren

Griff Singer Award
Olin Hinkle

Rising Star Award
Demi Adejuyigbe

2018 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Margaret Koy Kistler
Horace Busby Jr.
Frederick Benjamin “Fred” Gipson
Lucian Perkins
Elmer Kelton
Griff Singer
Elaine Corn
Dotty Griffith

Griff Singer Award
Robert Hilburn

Rising Star Award
Madlin Mekelburg
Katey Psencik

2017 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Sam Blair
Berke Breathed
Skeeter Hagler
Shirley Strum Kenny
Frank Luksa
Robert Rodriguez
Tex Schramm

Griff Singer Award
Richard Finnell

Rising Star Award
Bobby Blanchard
Hayley Fick

2016 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Deborah Howell
Kaye Northcott
Larry Price
Mike Quinn
Gayle Reaves
Senator Judith Zaffirini

Griff Singer Award
Ron Gibson
Paul J. Thompson

Rising Star Award
Emma Graves Fitzsimmons

2015 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Ronnie Dugger
John Pope
Jan Jarboe Russell
Mary Walsh
Liz Smith
George Christian
Granville Price

Griff Singer Award
DeWitt Carter Reddick

Rising Star Award
Lomi Kriel

2014 Honoree

Hall of Fame Griff Singer Award: Created in honor of legendary professor and Journalist Griff Singer

2013 Honorees

Hall of Fame
Walter Cronkite
Willie Morris
Liz Carpenter
Lady Bird Johnson
Fritz Lanham
Helene Wilke McNaughton
Karen Tumulty
Ben Sargent
Karen Elliott House
Bill Moyers
Dick Elam

Rising Star Award
Bryan Mealer