The University of Memphis journalism department will honor three of its own in an annual awards banquet tonight.
This year, honors will be presented to Jarvis Greer, sports news director for WMC channel 5, and Shirley Downing, former assistant city editor, reporter and editorial writer for the Commercial Appeal. They will both be receiving the Charles E. Thornton Award.
Al Westland, advertising/public relations consultant and retired U of M journalism professor, will be presented with the Herbert Lee Williams Award.
"I don't feel like I deserve an award," Westland said. "There are a lot more deserving teachers than me."
Whether Westland feels he deserves it or not, the alumni board has seen fit to honor him for his dedicated service.
"The Thornton Award is presented to journalism alumni who have succeeded in their field and uphold the standards of their profession, while the Williams Award is used to recognize those who, by virtue of their careers and service, have brought distinction to The U of M," said Paul Jewell, president of the alumni club board of directors and marketing manager for the Commercial Appeal.
He said the school seeks to honor the memories of the men the awards are named after.
According to Jewell, Charles Thornton attended The University as a student and then worked here as a journalism professor. He also worked at the Commercial Appeal and then the Press-Scimitar before he took a job at the Arizona Republic. He was killed in Afghanistan while on assignment for the Republic.
Herbert Williams served as the founding journalism department chair.
"The banquet is a great way to try and bring alums together, and all money received for tickets goes to support the alumni undergraduate scholarship," said Ronald Spielberger, associate professor of journalism and member of the alumni board.
The $1,000 scholarship is presented to one deserving student in the spring during the journalism undergraduate awards ceremony.
"We (the alumni board) take a great deal of pride and effort to make sure the money is awarded to the right participant," Spielberger said. "The focus is for the alumni to give something back to the journalism department, and they are eager to do so."
Many alumni give a great deal back to The U of M after graduation. Aside from financial contributions, many graduates return to campus to offer guidance, speak in classrooms and serve in mentorship programs.
"We are lucky to have a lot of very involved alumni here at The University and I am very pleased with the selections for this year's awards ceremony," Jewell said. "Shirley and Jarvis are two of the most proven professionals in Memphis, while Dr. Westland's award is long overdue for the many students he has taught and inspired in his career."
The banquet will be held at the Racquet Club of Memphis on Sanderlin and will begin at 7 p.m.
