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.