Lonny Cain
Two journalists from newspapers active in NINA have been honored by Northern
Illinois University.
Doug Ray of the Daily Herald was named the Illinois Journalist of
the Year for 2000.
The selection was made by the journalism program at Northern Illinois University
in DeKalb, continuing an award whose first recipient was Chicago newspaper
columnist Mike Royko in 1972.
Ray, who was the Daily Herald's editor and is now the president, was recognized
by NIU for his leadership for over 30 years in transforming a small weekly
newspaper in Arlington Heights into a major daily newspaper serving the
Northwest suburbs with very localized editions.
"These demonstrate Ray's concern for his newspaper's readers,"
said longtime NIU journalism professor Avi Bass. "He has been a leader
in creating a major new player in the Chicago market."
Ray joins journalists from newspapers, radio and television stations, and
magazines throughout the state who have been named the Illinois Journalist
of the Year. The 1999 IJY was Linda Grist Cunningham, executive editor of
the Rockford Register Star.
Other IJY winners have included Phil Ponce of "Chicago Tonight"
on WTTW-11, Chicago; Bill Kurtis, then at WBBM-2, Chicago; and Clarence
Page and Bob Greene, both of the Chicago Tribune.
Lonny Cain, NINA first vice president and managing editor of the
Ottawa Daily Times, was selected by the NIU journalism program to be the
Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alum of the Year for 2000.
Cain has several connections to Grubb, the NIU journalism professor for
whom this award was named. When he attended NIU working on a B.S. degree
in journalism education, graduating in 1970, the journalism department chair
was Donald R. Grubb, who had founded the department a few years before.
One of Grubb's first steps was to create a regional organization of newspaper
editors which developed into the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association.
The award was presented April 14 to Cain by Ruby Grubb of DeKalb. She joined
her husband in those early years helping create the journalism department's
camaraderie.
Ray and Cain were honored at the NIU journalism program's 53rd annual banquet
on April 14.