The Press Club of Metropolitan
St. Louis Celebrates 50 Years

It all began over fried catfish and dark beer. Martin Quigley of Fleishman-Hillard and his buddies, Al “Red Dog” Dopking (Associated Press), Ernest Kirschten, Dickson Terry, Bill Mauldin and John Keasler, all Post-Dispatch staffers, were enjoying their usual Friday lunch at the Bismarck Hotel.

As Martin’s story goes, they were happily feasting on catfish when Bill Mauldin piped up with, “We ought to call ourselves The Catfish Club.” Martin said, “I’ll be prez!” Red Dog said, “I’m treas!” And pretty soon other newspeople and catfish lovers began pulling up chairs. Among the club’s early pledges were Jim Lubbock, Martin Duggan, Al Toroian and Sue Ann Wood. Paul Morris, PR director of the Frisco Railroad, brought in Bill Dalton, Frisco’s legal counsel, to charter the Catfish Club.

Research shows our Press Club was not the first for St. Louis. A certificate of corporate existence was issued by the Missouri Secretary of State for a Saint Louis Press Club, which dissolved a dozen years later.

Our club was officially recorded as The Catfish Club in 1956 and became known as The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis in the 60’s.

The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis in 2007 has evolvedinto a professional, social and charitable organization of people who make, cover and influence the news. Our members are reporters, editors, news directors, anchors, columnists, professionals in advertising and public relations, and others who may be sources of news. It is a true “umbrella” organization for those in the communications professions.

In 1988, the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis initiated the “Media Person of the Year” Award to recognize distinguished men and women from the St. Louis media whose exemplary performance established standards of professional conduct and accomplishment. The event has gained a reputation of being a great evening of entertainment, with the honorees graciously accepting their toasts (and often roasts) by prominent homegrown personalities.

A popular part of each year’s event is the caricature of the honoree. This year’s caricature was created by Steve Edwards, cover artist for the St. Louis Journalism Review. Past caricatures have been created by Post-Dispatch cartoonists and illustrators Dan Martin and Amadee Wohlschlaeger. Proceeds from the dinner benefit scholarships and internships for journalism and communication students, Press Club programs, and the media archives at the St. Louis Public Library. Tonight, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we proudly salute past and present recipients of the coveted “Media Person of the Year” Award, whose generosity and commitment to their profession sets a shining example and helps make our scholarships a reality.

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