Andrea Wood
|
Ernie Brown
|
Peter "Pete" Gabriel
|
Tom Holden
|
Youngstown Press Club Announces 2022 Hall of Fame Class
Induction Ceremony September 28, 2022
Sponsored by Farmers National Bank
The Youngstown Press Club is pleased to announce its 2022 Hall of Fame class, presented by Farmers National Bank.
The 2022 class includes Mahoning Valley media icons Ernie Brown, Peter Gabriel (posthumous), Tom Holden (posthumous) and Andrea Wood. Biographies for the 2022 inductees are below. The awards ceremony and dinner took place Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 6 P.M. at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown.
“We’re excited to honor another impressive class with induction into the Press Club’s Hall of Fame,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director. “Although the idea for a Hall of Fame was conceptualized a few years ago, it wasn’t until last year that we had the opportunity to induct our inaugural class.”
The 2021 inaugural class included Bob Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia.
“The Hall of Fame ceremony allows us to properly recognize members of our local media who have given so much to our community, professionals with exceptional media careers,” Earnheardt said.
Nominees for the Hall of Fame must have a minimum of 20 years professional media experience including journalism, public relations, advertising and writing. Nominees must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region.
Contact Youngstown Press Club executive director Adam Earnheardt at 330-941-1845 or email at youngstownpressclub@gmail.com with questions.
Biographies
Ernie Brown
Ernie Brown is best known for his tenure as the regional editor for The Vindicator, Ohio’s eighth-largest daily newspaper, from 1986 to 2019, and as a reporter from 1976 to 1985. Before his decades-long service to Vindicator readers, Ernie was a junior high English teacher and adult basic education teacher with the Youngstown Board of Education, a student intern and general assignment radio reporter with WTVN Radio in Columbus, and a summer employee in the former forestry division of Ohio Edison, now FirstEnergy, in the early 70s.
An honors graduate of Youngstown’s East High School in 1970, Ernie went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Ohio State University in 1974 and, a year later, he earned a teaching certificate in English for grades seven through 12 from Youngstown State University.
Ernie has always been a community service-minded, serving as the former publicity co-chair for the Youngstown Chapter of the United Negro College Fund. He is also a former publicity co-chairman of the Youngstown Area March for Jesus, board member of the Youngstown Urban Minority Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Outreach Program (YUMADAOP), president of the William Swanston Charitable Fund board and member of Rising Star Baptist Church in Youngstown where her also serves as an elder.
Honored in 2016 by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Psi Omicron Chapter as its Person of the Year, Ernie has been honored by numerous other groups in the Valley, including Delta Sigma Theta Youngstown Alumnae Chapter for political awareness and involvement in 2015. He was named honorary co-chair of the first African-American Male Wellness Walk/Run and honored in 2012 for community service by the Ebony Lifeline Support Group.
Ernie and his wife, Cherrie (Ellis) have two children, Kevin M. Brown and Erin A. Brown. In his pastime, Ernie enjoys reading, golf, fantasy sports, listening to gospel music and smooth jazz.
Peter Gabriel (posthumous)
Peter “Pete” Gabriel’s broadcasting career began in the Armed Forces Radio and Television, while serving as an air policeman in the Azores. He was honorably discharged in 1959.
His radio career progressed through various stations in Pennsylvania, Columbus, Ohio, and Kansas City before settling in Youngstown, Ohio in 1978 with WKBN and the Williamson family.
His more than 26-year career with 570 WKBN included introducing the talk radio format to the valley in 1984, hiring some of the best-known voices to Youngstown (Dan Ryan, Dan Rivers, Ron Verb and Rich Morgan) while serving as operations manager. “Pete” also created one of the first mobile radio stations, Rollin’ Radio.
Pete loved his career, working many formats before stepping into the world of talk radio, where he was known for his friendly laughter and compassionate approach to callers. He enjoyed being involved in projects that benefited his community. One of his greatest community accomplishments was creating The Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day Parade, now entering its 45th year.
He received many awards and recognition throughout his career including an induction into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1996. He retired from WKBN and WNIO in 2005, completing 48 years in radio broadcasting, radio management and advertising sales.
“Pete always exceeded expectations,” said Dan Rivers, 570 WKBN Talk Host. “He was great on the radio, but his best attribute may have been his calling as a personnel director. Pete was the manager that closed the deal to bring Dan Ryan to WKBN. Ryan was a staple on WBBW, but Pete convinced him to join the staff of WKBN. One hire changed the trajectory of the station.”
Pete passed away in August 2021. He is survived by his wife Sandy, three children, Wynne (Steve) Coleman, David (Missy) Gabriel and Lori (Mike) McGlone; five grandchildren, Gabby and Catie Coleman, and Jack, Maggie, and Michael McGlone.
Tom Holden (posthumous)
After whetting his appetite for broadcast news with radio news at WBBW Youngstown, Tom Holden joined WKBN-TV in 1972 as a reporter. He was named an anchor in 1974. From the 1970s until the early 2000s, Tom was the Valley’s media equivalent of Walter Cronkite. Welcomed into local homes every weeknight at six and eleven, Tom was the anchor most people turned to with confidence for news about their world.
His ratings were legendary. Tom was credible, respected and valued. His special series on the mob in the Mahoning Valley was so popular people clamored to purchase copies.
When the industry evolved to recognize the importance of female anchors, Tom welcomed the addition of his longtime co-anchor, Gina Marinelli. In fact, he and Marinelli were the longest-running team in Valley media history.
He wasn’t just esteemed by those who knew him from WKBN News, or earlier stints at local radio stations WBBW and WHOT. Those privileged to call Tom a coworker, mentor, teacher and friend still lament his untimely passing in June 2005 at age 67.
According to his colleagues and students, Tom “was the most charming man most of us ever met. He was the most famous person most of us knew intimately, but he never acted like he was above anyone.”
“Many of us met Tom at Youngstown State University, where for decades he was a favorite adjunct broadcast journalism professor,” said Michele Gatts, Tricia Perry and Marinelli in a letter to the selection committee.
An Army veteran, Tom had offers from bigger markets for bigger jobs. But he was a native son — a graduate of Wilson High School and Kent State University – who loved the Mahoning Valley. While people and companies may have abandoned the Valley, Tom did not. His levity and leadership helped the Valley navigate good times and bad.
His most important and favorite job was being the beloved dad to three sons. “Even if we didn’t see them often, we felt as if we knew Sean, Kevin and Tommy well because Tom spoke of them with joy,” his nominators wrote.
Andrea Wood
Andrea Wood was born and raised in Pittsburgh and earned a B.A. in political science from Penn State University. In 1974, she became the first newswoman at WYTV Channel 33 in Youngstown when she was hired as a reporter and weekend anchor.
She went on to work as a news anchor, producer and reporter at WSBT-TV in South Bend, Ind., and WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh. In 1979, she returned to WYTV as an investigative reporter and subsequently was promoted to chief anchor and executive producer. Her 1979 documentary and continuing coverage about the disappearance of a 21-year-old Youngstown woman, Joanne Coughlin, earned awards for investigative reporting from the Ohio Associated Press Award and the Cleveland Press Club.
In August 1984, at the height of the steel industry’s demise in the Youngstown/Warren region, Andrea transitioned from broadcasting and co-founded the Youngstown Business Journal. As the bi-monthly newspaper expanded coverage to the five-county region, its name was modified to The Business Journal.
In 1996, the newspaper began publishing daily updates at BusinessJournalDaily.com. And in 2009, as The Business Journal celebrated its 25th anniversary, Andrea added a webcast, the Daily BUZZ, to the website. Diverse social media news platforms followed and today the news stories and videos posted on Facebook, LinkedIn and other channels extend The Business Journal’s reach – and positive voice from the Mahoning Valley – worldwide.
Andrea is the chair and president of The Youngstown Publishing Co. and Publisher of The Business Journal.
Throughout her career, she has served on numerous boards including the Citizens League of Greater Youngstown, League of Women Voters, Crime Stoppers of Greater Youngstown and the Workforce Investment Board of Mahoning and Columbiana Counties. Today she is secretary of the YMCA of Youngstown board of trustees.
She resides in Poland, Ohio, with her husband, Dennis LaRue.
Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner
September 29, 2021
Sponsored by Farmers National Bank
The Youngstown Press Club is pleased to announce its inaugural Hall of Fame class and First Amendment award honoree.
The inaugural class includes local media icons the late Robert “Bob” Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia. Also receiving the first-ever Youngstown Press Club First Amendment Award is The Vindicator Printing Company.
“The Press Club established the Hall of Fame and awards to celebrate members of our local communication, media and advertising community who have had long and distinguished careers,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director.
Nominees for the Hall of Fame must have a minimum of 20 years professional media experience including journalism, public relations, advertising, and/or writing. “In other words, they must have made notable contributions in the Valley media markets,” Earnheardt added.
The First Amendment Award is given to honor a person or organization who has taken a stand with the risk of personal or professional harm. “It was created to honor those who have staunchly defended the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” Earnheardt added.
The nominee must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region. This award will only be given in instances where the actions of the awardee are exceptional. The action meriting this award must have happened in the past five years.
Biographies
Bob Black’s interest in broadcasting began as a teenager when he was an announcer for WEDA-FM radio in Grove City, Pa. While attending Penn State University he continued working as an announcer and news editor at the college radio station WDFM. Black first worked as a Grove City Junior High School teacher for nine years after college until he scored a job in journalism in 1978 as a part-time weekend sports announcer WKBN-TV. He was named anchor of WKBN-TV News at Noon in 1979, anchoring the show for 17 years until 1996 when the station was sold. In 1997 he was hired by WFMJ-TV and became co-anchor of their 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. newscasts until his retirement in 2015. Black received three Cleveland Emmy Awards as well as various accolades for his coverage of Congressman James Traficant; of political corruption in the Valley; of General Motors Lordstown plant; and of the United Autoworkers Union among many other important topics. He continued contributing even after his retirement in 2015 with coverage of the 2016 Presidential election while serving on the 21 News political team. Black died in 2017.
Stan Boney is a 40-year-plus veteran of television news in Youngstown, joining WKBN-27 First News in 2015 after 36 years with 33-WYTV. He was born and raised in Findlay, Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio University. After a brief stint in Dayton, Boney arrived in Youngstown in 1979 and began his career at 33-WYTV. His first job at 33-WYTV was as the weekend sports anchor, later covering Trumbull County. In 1981, he took over weather duties, a position he held for 30 years. In 2008, Boney became the co-anchor of 33-WYTV News, and in 2011 he moved on from his weather job after being named anchor of the 33-WYTV News at 5:30, 6 and 11 P.M. His enthusiasm for writing and story-telling is evident through his coverage of major news such as Lordstown’s closing, local and national politics, and of hundreds of human-interest stories.
For 47 years, Youngstown native Ralph R. Zerbonia has been an entrepreneur and start-up launch specialist, starting numerous new media companies in the Valley. While working as a stockbroker he founded the Youngstown Publishing Company and in 1984 founded and became the first publisher of The Youngstown Business Journal. In 1995 he began cboss, an early internet services and programming company. They operated one of the first news aggregation sites in the state. With cboss and his consulting company Universe Central Corp they arranged for the Mahoning County Board of Elections to become the first site of election results being published live ever. cboss also created OPLATES which became the world’s largest registrar of vehicle plates. Having retired, he decided he didn’t like it, so he quit and is now working with Microsoft virtual reality technologies.
The Vindicator Printing Company, along with the Brown Family, provided a family-run newspaper to the Mahoning Valley for 150 years. The paper began in 1869 when it launched as The Mahoning Vindicator. It became the Youngstown Vindicator shortly after. Its reporting on the mafia, political corruption, and big business matters garnered the paper a reputation of fearlessness. In 1984, the paper became The Vindicator. The paper provided a heritage of reporting to uncover corruption and to be the watchdog for a community, the importance of good story-telling, and the celebration of the past while emphasizing the importance for future First Amendment rights through journalistic freedom and longevity.
September 29, 2021
Sponsored by Farmers National Bank
The Youngstown Press Club is pleased to announce its inaugural Hall of Fame class and First Amendment award honoree.
The inaugural class includes local media icons the late Robert “Bob” Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia. Also receiving the first-ever Youngstown Press Club First Amendment Award is The Vindicator Printing Company.
“The Press Club established the Hall of Fame and awards to celebrate members of our local communication, media and advertising community who have had long and distinguished careers,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director.
Nominees for the Hall of Fame must have a minimum of 20 years professional media experience including journalism, public relations, advertising, and/or writing. “In other words, they must have made notable contributions in the Valley media markets,” Earnheardt added.
The First Amendment Award is given to honor a person or organization who has taken a stand with the risk of personal or professional harm. “It was created to honor those who have staunchly defended the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” Earnheardt added.
The nominee must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region. This award will only be given in instances where the actions of the awardee are exceptional. The action meriting this award must have happened in the past five years.
Biographies
Bob Black’s interest in broadcasting began as a teenager when he was an announcer for WEDA-FM radio in Grove City, Pa. While attending Penn State University he continued working as an announcer and news editor at the college radio station WDFM. Black first worked as a Grove City Junior High School teacher for nine years after college until he scored a job in journalism in 1978 as a part-time weekend sports announcer WKBN-TV. He was named anchor of WKBN-TV News at Noon in 1979, anchoring the show for 17 years until 1996 when the station was sold. In 1997 he was hired by WFMJ-TV and became co-anchor of their 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. newscasts until his retirement in 2015. Black received three Cleveland Emmy Awards as well as various accolades for his coverage of Congressman James Traficant; of political corruption in the Valley; of General Motors Lordstown plant; and of the United Autoworkers Union among many other important topics. He continued contributing even after his retirement in 2015 with coverage of the 2016 Presidential election while serving on the 21 News political team. Black died in 2017.
Stan Boney is a 40-year-plus veteran of television news in Youngstown, joining WKBN-27 First News in 2015 after 36 years with 33-WYTV. He was born and raised in Findlay, Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio University. After a brief stint in Dayton, Boney arrived in Youngstown in 1979 and began his career at 33-WYTV. His first job at 33-WYTV was as the weekend sports anchor, later covering Trumbull County. In 1981, he took over weather duties, a position he held for 30 years. In 2008, Boney became the co-anchor of 33-WYTV News, and in 2011 he moved on from his weather job after being named anchor of the 33-WYTV News at 5:30, 6 and 11 P.M. His enthusiasm for writing and story-telling is evident through his coverage of major news such as Lordstown’s closing, local and national politics, and of hundreds of human-interest stories.
For 47 years, Youngstown native Ralph R. Zerbonia has been an entrepreneur and start-up launch specialist, starting numerous new media companies in the Valley. While working as a stockbroker he founded the Youngstown Publishing Company and in 1984 founded and became the first publisher of The Youngstown Business Journal. In 1995 he began cboss, an early internet services and programming company. They operated one of the first news aggregation sites in the state. With cboss and his consulting company Universe Central Corp they arranged for the Mahoning County Board of Elections to become the first site of election results being published live ever. cboss also created OPLATES which became the world’s largest registrar of vehicle plates. Having retired, he decided he didn’t like it, so he quit and is now working with Microsoft virtual reality technologies.
The Vindicator Printing Company, along with the Brown Family, provided a family-run newspaper to the Mahoning Valley for 150 years. The paper began in 1869 when it launched as The Mahoning Vindicator. It became the Youngstown Vindicator shortly after. Its reporting on the mafia, political corruption, and big business matters garnered the paper a reputation of fearlessness. In 1984, the paper became The Vindicator. The paper provided a heritage of reporting to uncover corruption and to be the watchdog for a community, the importance of good story-telling, and the celebration of the past while emphasizing the importance for future First Amendment rights through journalistic freedom and longevity.
Other Awards
Youngstown, OH (April 15, 2022)
Nominations open for the 2022 Youngstown Press Club Awards and Hall of Fame Class
The Youngstown Press Club Board of Governors seeks nominations for the Club's 2022 awards to be presented later this Fall. Last year's inaugural class included Robert “Bob” Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia. Also receiving the first-ever Youngstown Press Club First Amendment Award was The Vindicator Printing Company.
Nominations are only accepted from current Press Club members. The Press Club seeks nominations in the following categories: Hall of Fame, Excellence Award, First Amendment, and Medal of Merit. To make a nomination, read the qualifying criteria and click the nomination form link at the bottom of the award category.
To join the Youngstown Press Club, please visit our Membership page. Memberships are $50, or $100 for 3 years, or $35 for professionals under 35. Membership terms run January 1-December 31.
The nomination deadline is June 1, 2022.
Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame
Those selected for this honor will be in the second class of the Hall of Fame. The Club has chosen to establish this award to commemorate those members of our community who have had long and distinguished careers in media. This award will be given to people nearing the end or at the end of their careers. The nominator and the nominee in this award category should plan to attend the Fall meeting of the Club in September.
Criteria:
Excellence Award in Media (may be given in any category journalism, PR, adverting, etc.)
The Excellence Award was established to honor those who are currently doing exemplary work in one of the mass communication fields.
Criteria:
First Amendment Award
The First Amendment Award was established to honor those who have engaged in behavior in defense of the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Medal of Merit
This award is an internal award for a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
Nominations are due by June 1, 2022. Awardees will be informed by July 15, 2022. Awards will be presented during the Fall meeting of the Club. In order for the application to be considered, this form must be received with the $10 nomination fee by the June 1 deadline. A separate form and fee are required for each nomination. Submit payment via PayPal at paypal.me/YoungstownPressClub or by check made payable to "Youngstown Press Club" and mailed to the Youngstown Press Club, c/o Adam Earnheardt, 2013 Bliss Hall, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555.
No additional information is required, however, three (3) additional letters of support may be delivered to Youngstown Press Club executive director, Adam Earnheardt at acearnheardt@ysu.edu after the nomination form is submitted. Letters of support must be received before the June 1, 2022 deadline. Questions should be directed to Adam Earnheardt at acearnheardt@ysu.edu.
Nominations open for the 2022 Youngstown Press Club Awards and Hall of Fame Class
The Youngstown Press Club Board of Governors seeks nominations for the Club's 2022 awards to be presented later this Fall. Last year's inaugural class included Robert “Bob” Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia. Also receiving the first-ever Youngstown Press Club First Amendment Award was The Vindicator Printing Company.
Nominations are only accepted from current Press Club members. The Press Club seeks nominations in the following categories: Hall of Fame, Excellence Award, First Amendment, and Medal of Merit. To make a nomination, read the qualifying criteria and click the nomination form link at the bottom of the award category.
To join the Youngstown Press Club, please visit our Membership page. Memberships are $50, or $100 for 3 years, or $35 for professionals under 35. Membership terms run January 1-December 31.
The nomination deadline is June 1, 2022.
Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame
Those selected for this honor will be in the second class of the Hall of Fame. The Club has chosen to establish this award to commemorate those members of our community who have had long and distinguished careers in media. This award will be given to people nearing the end or at the end of their careers. The nominator and the nominee in this award category should plan to attend the Fall meeting of the Club in September.
Criteria:
- Nomination must be made by a member in good standing of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Nominee does not have to be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- There is a $10 fee for nominations.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- Nominee must have a minimum of 20 years professional media experience including journalism, public relations, advertising, writing, etc.
- Nominee must have made notable contributions in the Mahoning Valley media market.
- The Club may induct no more than two people posthumously a year.
- The Club will induct no more than four members a year but is not required to induct anyone.
Excellence Award in Media (may be given in any category journalism, PR, adverting, etc.)
The Excellence Award was established to honor those who are currently doing exemplary work in one of the mass communication fields.
Criteria:
- Nomination must be made by a member in good standing of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Nominee does not have to be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Award can go to an individual or an organization.
- There is a $10 fee for nominations.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- Excellence in this award category should focus on one field of mass communication. Nominations can focus on excellence as it relates to a one-time project or excellence as shown by a body of work.
- Work must have been done in the Mahoning Valley media market.
- This award will only be given when candidates merit recognition.
First Amendment Award
The First Amendment Award was established to honor those who have engaged in behavior in defense of the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
- Nomination may be made by anyone.
- Nominee does not have to be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Award can go to an individual or an organization.
- There is a $10 fee for nominations.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- This Award is given to honor a person or organization that has taken a stand with the risk of personal or professional harm. The nominator must make this case in the nomination materials.
- The winner must have a connection to the Mahoning Valley region.
- This award will only be given in instances where the actions of the awardee are exceptional.
- The action meriting this award must be done in the past five years.
Medal of Merit
This award is an internal award for a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Nomination must be made by a standing committee chair or member of the Board of Governors.
- Nominee must be a member of the Youngstown Press Club.
- Members of the YPC Awards selection committee may not be nominated or nominate anyone.
- This Award is given to honor a person who has contributed to the Club.
Nominations are due by June 1, 2022. Awardees will be informed by July 15, 2022. Awards will be presented during the Fall meeting of the Club. In order for the application to be considered, this form must be received with the $10 nomination fee by the June 1 deadline. A separate form and fee are required for each nomination. Submit payment via PayPal at paypal.me/YoungstownPressClub or by check made payable to "Youngstown Press Club" and mailed to the Youngstown Press Club, c/o Adam Earnheardt, 2013 Bliss Hall, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH 44555.
No additional information is required, however, three (3) additional letters of support may be delivered to Youngstown Press Club executive director, Adam Earnheardt at acearnheardt@ysu.edu after the nomination form is submitted. Letters of support must be received before the June 1, 2022 deadline. Questions should be directed to Adam Earnheardt at acearnheardt@ysu.edu.