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For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.
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The work of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation depends on time, talent and financial support from those who support excellence and ethics in journalism. Our online giving process will only take a few moments. Please visit our donation page to support SPJ and the SDX Foundation.
Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.
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The work of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation depends on time, talent and financial support from those who support excellence and ethics in journalism. Our online giving process will only take a few moments. Please visit our donation page to support SPJ and the SDX Foundation.
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Have a question or working on a story and need a knowledgable SPJ and journalism-industry source? Try one of these SPJ experts first.
SPJ.org
– News
– Calendar
– Chapters
– SPJ Blogs Network
– Journalist's Toolbox
– Excellence in Journalism
About SPJ
– SDX Foundation
– SPJ Experts
– Headquarters Staff
– Board of Directors
– Legal Defense Fund
– Awards
– History and Timeline
– Donate
– Advertise
– Merchandise
Missions and Resources
– Journalism Training
– Freedom of Information
– Ethics
– Diversity
– Freelancers
– Students
– Educators
– International
– Generation J
SPJ Members
– Members Home
– Edit Profile
– Renew Membership
– Membership Directory
– Join SPJ
– Why Join?
Tip: Press the ESC key to instantly call up a feed containing all the newest SPJ news and updates to our social channels.
For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.
We invite you to join us today!
– Join Online
– Benefits of an SPJ Membership
– Membership Fees
1. Join online
2. Download a form and join by mail or fax [PDF]
3. Request an application by mail
Membership expired? Renew in minutes today.
– How SPJ Works for You
– Discounted Services for Members
– Testimonials: Why I'm a Member
– Three Reasons to Join: Education, Support, Advocacy
– Membership Fees
– Join Now!
– FOI Resources
– FOI Committee Blog
– FOI FAQ: Pros | Students
– Shield Law
– News/Articles
– Find FOI Locally
– Ethics Resources
– SPJ Code of Ethics
– Ethics Committee Blog
– Committee Position Papers
– News/Articles
– Answers/Get Help
– Diversity Resources
– Diversity Committee Blog
– News/Articles
– Rainbow Diversity Sourcebook
– Diversity Toolbox
– Resources/Guidelines
– Training on Demand Videos
– Webinars on Demand
– Spring Conferences
– Journcamp
– For Journalism
– Ted Scripps Leadership Institute
– Online Tips and Tutorials
– On-Site Training
– Sat, Nov 08, 2014: SPJ JournCamp: Miami [Training]
– Fri, Nov 14, 2014: Ted Scripps Leadership Institute: Columbus, Ohio [Training] [Leaders]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award Application Deadline [Awards] [Convention]
– Job Bank
– SPJ Freelancer Directory
– Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships
– Journalist's Toolbox
– SPJ Experts
– Freelancers
– Young Professionals
[Generation J]
– Students
– Educators
– International Journalists
The work of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation depends on time, talent and financial support from those who support excellence and ethics in journalism. Our online giving process will only take a few moments. Please visit our donation page to support SPJ and the SDX Foundation.
Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.
– Home
– Board of Directors
– Donors Circle
– Give Monthly
– Planned Giving
– Memorial & Tribute Gifts
– Signature Programs
– Grants Information
– Documentation
Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Nashville for training, networking, workshops and more!
– 2014 Recap
– 2013 Recap
– 2012 Recap
– 2011 Recap
– 2010 Recap
– 2009 Recap
– 2008 Recap
– 2007 Recap
– 2006 Recap
– National Contests
– Awards, Fellowships and Internships
– SPJ Honors: Public | Members
– National Chapter Awards
– Local/Regional Contests
– Mon, Dec 01, 2014: Fellows of the Society Award 2014 Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Jan 23, 2015: 2014 Mark of Excellence Awards Submission Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Feb 06, 2015: 2014 Sigma Delta Chi Awards Submission Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Feb 13, 2015: New America Award Submission Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Sat, Feb 28, 2015: High School Essay Contest Postmark Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Sunshine Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Historic Sites in Journalism Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award Application Deadline [Awards] [Convention]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Ethics in Journalism Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Apr 17, 2015: Regional Director of the Year Award Nomination Deadline [Awards]
– Fri, Apr 17, 2015: Wells Memorial Key Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Apr 17, 2015: Julie Galvan Outstanding Campus Member Award Nomination Deadline [Awards]
– Fri, Apr 17, 2015: David Eshelman Outstanding Campus Adviser Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Apr 17, 2015: Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member Award Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Apr 24, 2015: 2014 Sigma Delta Chi Awards Winners Announcement [SPJ Awards]
– Mon, Jun 22, 2015: Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award Application Deadline [Awards]
– Mon, Jun 22, 2015: Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing Application Deadline [Awards] [Fellowships]
– Fri, Jun 26, 2015: 2014 Sigma Delta Chi Awards Banquet [SPJ Awards]
– Spring Conferences
– Find FOI in Your State
– Start a Chapter in Your Area
– SPJ Leaders home
– Leading Edge Blog
– Scripps Leadership Institute
– Downloadable Resources
– Start a Chapter
– Annual Reports, Best Practices and more
– Member Directory Search
– Chapter Directory
– Prospective Members Report
– Members Not Renewing Report
The work of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation depends on time, talent and financial support from those who support excellence and ethics in journalism. Our online giving process will only take a few moments. Please visit our donation page to support SPJ and the SDX Foundation.
– Contact SPJ Headquarters
– Employment Opportunities
– Advertise with SPJ
Have a question or working on a story and need a knowledgable SPJ and journalism-industry source? Try one of these SPJ experts first.
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Home > Awards > Wells Memorial Key
Awards
Wells Memorial Key
for Outstanding Service to the Society
Postmark deadline for nominations: April 17
Chester Wells: His True Life Story
Chester C. Wells, Sigma Delta Chis second national president, is remembered today through the Wells Memorial Key, which is the highest honor SPJ can bestow on a member. But little else about his legacy has been documented. Journalist Gordon Govier set out to discover the story of Chester Wells, who was elected president at the second national convention of Sigma Delta Chi, held in Madison, Wisc., in May 1913. This is what he found.
2014 Honoree
Kevin Smith
Read Press Release
Past Honorees
2013 Dave Carlson
2012 Robert Leger
2011 Al Cross
2010 Irwin Gratz
2009 Terry Harper, Former SPJ Executive Director
2008 Bill McCloskey
2007 Betsy Ashton
2006 Fred Winfield Brown, Jr.
2005 Gordon "Mac" McKerral
2004 Ian Marquand
2003 Sally Lehrman
2002 Kyle Niederpruem
2002 Julie Grimes
2001 Steve Geimann
2000 Dick Kleeman
1999 Peter Sussman
1998 June Anderson Almquist
1997 Paul Davis
1996 Georgiana Vines
1995 Lucy Dalglish
1994 Frank Gibson
1993 Carolyn Carlson
1992 Reginald Stuart
1991 Phil Record
1990 Paul McMasters
1989 Kenneth C. Reiley
1988 David B. Offer
1987 Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver
1986 R. T. Kingman
1985 Ralph Izard
1984 Jean Otto
1984 Staley McBrayer
1984 Maynard Hicks
1984 Ralph Otwell
1984 Bert Bostrom
1983 Casey Bukro
1982 Alf Goodykoontz
1981 Russell E. Hurst
1981 Howard S. Dubin
1980 Robert Lewis
1979 William Small
1978 Warren K. Agee
1977 H. G. (Buddy) Davis
1976 Henry Rieger
1975 James L. Julian
1974 William T. Kong
1973 James S. Copley
1972 Charles E. Barnum
1971 William B. Arthur
1970 Robert M. White II
1969 Eugene C. Pulliam
1968 Theodore F. Koop
1967 Alfred W. Balk
1966 Buren McCormack
1965 Walter Burroughs
1964 Robert J. Cavagnaro
1963 James A. Byron
1961 Donald D. Hoover
1960 Sol Taishoff
1959 Bernard Kilgore
1958 Mason Rossiter Smith
1956 Charles C. Clayton
1955 Alvin E. Austin
1954 John M. McClelland, Jr.
1953 Floyd Arpan
1952 William Kostka
1951 Neal Van Sooy
1950 John T. Bills
1949 Luther Huston
1948 Kenneth R. Marvin
1947 Carl B. Kesler
1946 George A. Brandenburg
1945 Albert W. Bates
1944 Palmer Hoyt
1943 Elmo Scott Watson
1942 Willard R. Smith
1941 Floyd Shoemaker
1940 John L. Meyer
1939 Ralph L. Peters
1938 Albert W. Bates
1937 Tully Nettleton
1936 Carl P. Miller
1935 John E. Stempel
1934 Walter Humphrey
1933 Charles E. Snyder
1932 Franklin M. Reck
1931 John G. Earhart
1930 Edwin V. ONeel
1929 Robert B. Tarr
1928 James A. Stuart
1927 Lawrence W. Murphy
1926 Roy L. French
1925 Donald H. Clark
1924 George F. Pierrot
1923 Ward A. Neff
1922 T. Hawley Tapping
1921 Lee A. White
1920 Kenneth C. Hogate
1919 Felix M. Church
1915 Roger Steffan
1915 Carl Getz
1914 Lee A. White
1913 Laurence H. Sloan
Each year, a member who is judged to have served the Society in the most outstanding fashion during the preceding year or over a period of years is presented SPJs highest honor for a member, the Wells Memorial Key.
The Award honors Chester Wells, Sigma Delta Chis second national president, who died in 1913 while in office.
SPJ executive officers select honorees. The Society may present one Wells Memorial Key in any given year unless the executive committee agrees no candidates are available for that year.
Eligibility
Nominees must be a member of SPJ. Nominations may be submitted by any SPJ member or chapter.
Nominations
Nomination form should be accompanied bya letter(s) of recommendation that addresses the nominees contributions and/or service to the Society of Professional Journalists and why the nominee is deserving of this national recognition.
Submit all nomination materials unbound on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Additional supporting materials are welcomed and should be limited to 10 pages.
Winner Announcement and Presentation
Honoree will be announced and honored at the Presidents Installation Banquet at the SPJ National Convention. Honorees are presented with a jeweled key.
Deadlines
Nominations must be postmarked on or before April 17. Nominations should be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
Wells Memorial Key
Society of Professional Journalists
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Fax: 317/920-4789
awards@spj.org
For More Information
For more information contact SPJ Headquarters at 317/927-8000 or by e-mail: awards@spj.org