Publisher, Detroit Free Press (retired)
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
1996
Citation:
Throughout your more than 45 years as a journalist, teacher, and community servant, you have set exceptional standards of integrity, dedication, productivity and civic responsibility. As demonstrated by the variety of awards and accolades conferred upon the Detroit Free Press during your years of visionary leadership, you guided the paper to a position of nationally recognized excellence. Your personal ethic of hard work and service to others has been reflected by promotions throughout your career, in numerous roles at the Free Press, culminating in your appointment as publisher in 1990. Your accomplishments as a wise and enthusiastic leader in the field of journalism continue to be widely recognized and emulated. Your illustrious career in journalism has paralleled your contributions as a gifted and caring teacher for more than 30 years at the University of Detroit, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and currently at Oakland University. A wide variety of students have regarded you as a repository of knowledge, a concerned and understanding mentor and a personal role model. Your active and enthusiastic support as an alumnus and friend of this University is also deeply appreciated. Your humor, sensitivity, and warmth are conveyed in your writing, your teaching, your journalistic affiliations and your activities as a board member in more than 35 civic and community organizations. Your distinction in professional and community life has been recognized through the numerous awards and honors conferred upon you, including a Pulitzer-prize winning reporting project, the George Polk Memorial Award for National Reporting, Associated Press and United Press International awards for column writing, induction into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, March of Dimes Distinguished Community Citizen of the Year Award, American Lung Association Service Award, Boys' and Girls' Clubs Man of the Year Award, Spectrum Human Services Award, the G. Mennen Williams Award for excellence in leadership in the field of child welfare, countless others. In recognition of your distinguisher professional career and exemplary civic service-as well as renowned Irish humor-the University of Detroit Mercy is pleased to bestow upon you an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree. Commencement, University of Detroit Mercy, May 11, 1996.