Journalism icon honored at dedication ceremony

Nearly 40 years after his death, Roy W. Howard remains revered as a hero by the IU School of Journalism. Rows of guests packed the lobby of the journalism school Monday afternoon attentively listening to the praise of a man who made impressive strides in the field of newspaper journalism. \nGuests stood up and sat down on command as IU president Myles Brand officially dedicated the Scripps Howard Foundation Suite, the Roy W. Howard Archive and the Scripps Howard Foundation Digital Imaging Lab. \n"He undoubtedly changed our ways of thinking about journalism," Brand said.\nEulogizing Howard as a "great man" a man from whom we can learn, Chancellor Sharon Brehm, President Brand and Dean of the School of Journalism Trevor Brown, praised Howard and his journalistic achievements. \n"We're trying to master and keep up with change, and it would do us well to reflect on the leadership of Roy W. Howard, who lived in an even greater time of change," Brown said at the ceremony.\nThe Scripps Howard Foundation and Roy W. Howard's family donated funds to renovate certain areas of the journalism school. The ceremony officially acknowledged the efforts of these benefactors, Brown said.\nHoward's granddaughter, Pam Howard, who was at the dedication, said Howard always considered himself a Hoosier even though he wasn't able to attend IU because of financial reasons. \nSince 1984, when Howard's letters were donated to the school to create an archive, the Howard family has maintained a strong relationship with IU. \n"It's very inspiring to be here. It's a great place to be," Pam Howard said.\nBrehm also acknowledged the University's relationship with the Howard family. "We're fortunate not to have to depend on the kindness of strangers," Brehm said regarding the Howard family's donations.\nBreaking from tradition, IU decided to bestow the Thomas Hart Benton Mural Medallion awards for the first time on a family and a foundation. IU Foundation President Curtis Simic acknowledged the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Roy W. Howard family, and Dan Thomasson, a liaison between the journalism school and the Scripps Howard Foundation. He also thanked Roy W. Howard himself.\n"We're very grateful to you, Roy Howard," Simic said. \nThomasson and Pam Howard will continue to work on projects to benefit the journalism school.\nThomasson attended IU and then went on to work for the Scripps Howard Foundation. "Some of the best years of my life were spent here," Thomasson said. \nHe said he enjoys giving back to the community, primarily IU, because of the significant role it plays in the field of journalism. \n"You don't go into these things thinking about the dedication ceremony, you think of improving things for students," Thomasson said.\nWinners of the national Roy W. Howard 2002 writing competition were also in attendance. Brehm recognized the winners and talked of the necessary recipe in creating great journalists, which in turn creates and promotes democracy.