Halls of Fame

Dr. Donald Suggs – 2007

Dr. Donald M. Suggs presided over more than tenfold circulation growth circulation at the St. Louis American after taking the reins at the publication in 1984. At that time there were six employees at the paper. That number rose to 25 and annual revenues exceeded $3 million. The American was named the top Black Newspaper in the nation multiple times. It developed the annual Salute to Excellence program to focus on the need improve education, and the program received national plaudits for its accomplishments. Dr. Suggs continued his community involvement with the paper and received numerous state and national awards for accomplishments in the journalism community.

Carlos Hurd – 2010

After two years at the St. Louis Star, Carlos Hurd worked for the Post-Dispatch for over 50 years, but he is most widely known for his firsthand reports of the race riots in East St. Louis and the sinking of the Titanic, the latter of which accounted for his lifelong nickname, “Titanic Man.” As a passenger on the first ship to reach the Titanic, Hurd literally wrote his account on a roll of toilet paper. His graphic writing style conveyed the horror of both events, transporting the readers to the scene.

Melba Sweets – 2008

Known as the Queen Mother of St. Louis journalism, Sweets was a writer, editor and wife of the former longtime owner and publisher of The St. Louis American. She taught a generation of journalists who started in the black press the importance of good grammar, writing and a love of language. At the American, she put her writing and teaching skills to work as an editor with a feared red pen, editing the work of many journalists who went on to work for major newspapers and magazines in the United States. She also co-authored “We’re Tellin’” a gossip and society column.

Mary Kimbrough – 2007

Mary Kimbrough worked at three St. Louis newspapers, at a time when few women could be found in newsrooms. She received the Quest Award and was named 2004 Communication of Achievement by the National Federation of Press Women in recognition of her outstanding work as a journalist. In addition to her work in the newsrooms of the Post-Dispatch, Globe-Democrat and Star-Times, Mary was a prolific free-lance writer and authored 16 books. She was the first woman to be honored as the St. Louis Press Club’s Media Person of the Year.

Elaine Viets – 2011

Elaine Viets capped a successful gig of over two decades as a columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch by easing out of the position and into the job of writing novels. Although she developed a large following with appearances on St. Louis TV and radio, her career move away from writing columns – many of which were based on the quirkiness of South St. Louis – proved to be wise. Her first series in the world of books was based on the sleuthing of newspaper columnist Francesca Vierling, and St. Louis readers found many of the characters in those novels resembled well-known local figures, including a few high-profile media people. For her novel writing, Elaine won the Agatha, Anthony and Lefty Awards.

Charles Klotzer – 2008

Klotzer’s career in journalism began in 1948 as assistant editor of at the Troy (Ill.) Tribune working for 19 year-old future Illinois senator Paul Simon, then the editor and publisher. He was founder of the Greater St. Louis Jewish Star and later, editor of the St. Louis Jewish Light. Klotzer and his wife Rose launched FOCUS/Midwest, a monthly dealing with the social, political and racial issues of the 1960s. In 1970, they founded, with the help of area journalists, academicians and social activists the St. Louis Journalism Review. In 1983, the two publications merged, becoming the only local media review in the country. Through most of its existence, the St. Louis Journalism Review was financed completely by the Klotzers.