(MURFREESBORO) The Seventh Annual Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at 4:30PM Tuesday afternoon (8/6/2019) at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in conjunction with the Tennessee Association of Broadcaster's Conference.

Hooper Penuel and the late Dan Whittle founded the organization, which as of this induction, have honored 43 journalists.

Penuel told NewsRadio WGNS . . .

MTSU's Director of the Free Speech Center Ken Paulson served as emcee for the event.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019:

• VALERIE CALHOUN is a 5-time Emmy Award Winner and co-host of Good Morning Memphis on WHBQ TV.
• JOE EDWARDS a 42-year Associated Press veteran from Nashville.
• EARL FREUDENBERG a 50+ year Chattanooga radio and television broadcast journalist.
• FRANCIS "Red" O'DONNELL presented posthumously, longtime Nashville Banner columnist.
• PAUL FREEMAN TINKLE a Martin, TN native who for decades has owned and operated several stations in this multi-city West Tennessee market.
• BILL WILLIAMS is a retired anchor emeritus and special reporter for WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

A portion of the program paid tribute to Journalist Dan Whittle (class of 2018). The popular humorist, writer, story teller and WGNS' broadcaster died Thursday morning, April 25, 2019, after a lengthy battle with leukemia.

Whittle was not only the co-founder of the Tennessee Journalism Hal of Fame, but he was also a First Amendment advocate, reporter and great storyteller.

At last year's journalism, Whittle noted, "Great stories live forever, because of great story tellers. Great story tellers live forever, because of their great stories."