Press Club Gala Is Dazzling Success!

Our region’s nationally-affiliated public broadcasting stations, KWMU-FM and KETC-TV, were given well-deserved recognition, as well as good-natured ribbing, at the Press Club’s 17th Media Honorees of the Year Scholarship Gala November 1, themed “Let’s Go Public!”

More than 300 guests filled the beautifully decorated ballroom at the Sheraton Lakeside Chalet West Port Hotel for a sumptuous dinner and entertaining roasts and toasts by Patrick Murphy, Harvey Harris, Donn Johnson and Tom Schlafly. Wendy Wiese was a masterful emcee and the videos produced by each station brought laughter, as well as applause.

Accepting their Media Honorees of the Year crystal trophies were Juanita Hinshaw, president of the KETC-TV board, and Patricia Wente, general manager for KWMU-FM. Linda Mantle was the event’s chairperson, assisted by co-chairs Dorothy Weiner, Marci Rosenberg and Joan Quicksilver.

Thanks to generous sponsorship from area corporations and individuals, the event raised over $!6,000 to support the club’s scholarships, programming, and the Media Archives at the St. Louis Public Library.

Holding the crystal trophy each honoree received on behalf of their station are: (center right) Juanita Hinshaw, President of the KETC-TV Board and (center left) Patti Wente, General Manager of KWMU-FM. Flanking the honorees on the left are: Linda Mantle, Chair of the 2005 Media Honorees of the Year event and Harvey Harris, Honorary Co-Chair; on the right are Harriet Woods, Honorary Co-Chair and Bob Cohn, President of the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Donn Johnson gives KWMU-FM a warm tribute.

Patrick Murphy toasts Juanita Hinshaw prior to his hilarious roast of KETC-TV.

Tom Schlafly looks over his notes for the KWMU-FM roast as Harriet Woods (right) and Patti Wente (left) smile about what's to come. Top

Wendy Wiese had everyone laughing as the evening's Master of Ceremonies. Top

Bob Cohn welcomes the audience of 340 to the 2005 Media Honorees of the Year Scholarship Dinner and Roast and the Sheraton Lakeside Chalet Hotel at West Port.          Top

Accepting the 2005 Media Honoree of the Year trophies are (left) Juanita Hinshaw for KETC-TV/Channel 9 and (right) Patti Wente for 90.7 KWMU-FM Top

The fabulous foursome who chaired this extraordinary gala are, from left to right: Linda Mantle, Chair; Dorothy Weiner, Joan Quicksilver and Marci Rosenberg, Co-Chairs.  Top