The Adam R. Kelly Award is the most prestigious award presented by the West Virginia Press Association.
The award was established in 1991 in memory of the late Adam R. Kelly, legendary “Country Editor” columnist and former owner and editor of the Tyler Star News in Sistersville. Kelly was known nationally for his outstanding service to newspapers.
A committee of past presidents of the Press Association selects the honoree from nominations made by journalists or other persons. Announcement of each year’s winner is made during the awards ceremony at the annual WVPA Convention.
Nominations are submitted each year to:
Betsy Miles
West Virginia Press Association Executive Director
304-951-2474
Or
WV Press Association
3422 Pennsylvania Ave.
Charleston, WV 25302
Included in the submission should be a biography of the nominee, with specific emphasis on his or her service to the newspapers of the state, the West Virginia Press Association and to his or her local community.
Announcement of the recipient is made during the Convention or Hall of Fame Celebration.
The 2022 Adam R. Kelly Award recipient is Jim Spanner of the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
1991
|
Phil Fourney |
Ravenswood
|
---|---|---|
1992
|
Jack Maurice
|
Charleston
|
1993
|
Charles K. Connor, Jr.
|
Beckley
|
1994
|
Bob Earle
|
Weston
|
1995
|
Jane Price Sharp
|
Marlinton
|
1996
|
James M. Myer
|
Wheeling
|
1997
|
Linda Benson
|
Kingwood
|
1998
|
Cecil B. Highland, Jr.
|
Clarksburg
|
1999
|
Edward Chadwick
|
Huntington
|
2000
|
Warren Buzzerd
|
Berkeley Springs
|
2001
|
Fran Hollendonner
|
Parkersburg
|
2002
|
Robert DeFrancis
|
Wheeling
|
2003
|
Jim McGoldrick
|
St. Marys
|
2004
|
Tom George
|
Wayne
|
2005
|
Tom Colley
|
Bluefield
|
2006
|
John Veasey
|
Fairmont
|
2007
|
William F. Fouch
|
Petersburg
|
2008
|
Phoebe F. Heishman
|
Moorefield
|
2009
|
Nanya Friend
|
Charleston
|
2010 |
Ogden Nutting
|
Wheeling
|
2011 |
George Wallace
|
Wellsburg
|
2012 |
Frank Wood
|
Beckley
|
2013 |
Ed Given
|
Sutton
|
2014 |
David Hedges
|
Spencer
|
2015 |
Andy Kniceley
|
Clarksburg
|
2016 |
David Corcoran
|
Glenville
|
2017 |
Ed Dawson
|
Huntington
|
2018 |
Perry Nardo
|
Wheeling
|
2019 |
Sandy Buzzerd
|
Berkeley Springs
|
2020 | John Bolt | West Virginia University |
2021 | Randy Mooney | Bluefield Daily Telegraph |
2022 | Jim Spanner | Parkersburg News & Sentinel |
2023 | ||
2024 | ||
2025 | ||
2026 | ||
2027 | ||
2028 | ||
2029 |