Rau’s joke — a set of Billy Bob teeth — was one of many as she and five others were inducted into the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center, 5665 E. Pickard St.

Terry Foster, Jeffrey R. Caponigro, Matt Dobek, Monetta Richey Harr and Rick McKay were the others to earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. The inductees shared happiness and gratitude during the event.

Rau is a retired award-winning high school journalism teacher who now works at CMU as the adviser of Grand Central Magazine and professor of online journalism. She said her students showed her the importance of her job.

“I learned early in my career that I had the best of both worlds,” Rau said. “Every student has a story to tell, and if you want to be a teacher, you need to know them and what they are about.”

The 2009 Young Journalist of the Year award went to 2004 alumnus Chris Gautz, a former editor at Central Michigan Life.

Gautz said he hopes the award is a foreshadowing of greater things to come.

“It was very humbling and surprising to find out I’d won the award,” he said. “The staff responded to my nomination like the country responded to (President Barack) Obama getting the Peace Prize — with ‘For what?’”

Former CMU president Michael Rao made an appearance via a pre-recorded introductory video praising Caponigro.
Caponigro, who founded and owns Caponigro Public Relations, established CMU’s Caponigro Public Relations Endowed Scholarship and funded the Caponigro Multimedia Lab.

“I’ve heard about people who need no introduction, but I’m not one of them,” he said after Rao’s video. “Tonight, to be inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame, for that I am most grateful.”

‘You need friends’

Five of the inductees were Central Michigan Life alumni.

Jim Wojcik, who advised several of the honored graduates and helped find the Hall of Fame, received thanks from the inductees for his toughness during their time at CMU.

Foster, who once convinced Wojcik to help him start an unsuccessful jean design business, was known for his enterprising spirit and humor. Foster reminisced about his experiences with Central Michigan Life and Wojcik, maintaining that though the journalism industry changed, he did not.

“I’m the same guy who started my own newspaper, the Vancouver Times, when I was 10,” Foster said. “Vancouver was the name of my street — the circulation was five.”

Foster is now a sports columnist for the Detroit News and co-hosts the radio show ‘Valenti and Foster.’ He said his success was built on more than just hard work.

“You cannot do it alone,” Foster said. “You need friends, you need family and you need mentors to get behind this podium.”

Other inductees included Dobek, vice president of public relations for the Detroit Pistons; Harr, a longtime writer for the Jackson Citizen Patriot; and McKay, deputy photo editor for the White House.

The inductees are Jeffrey R. Caponigro, Matt Dobek, Terry Foster, Monetta Richey Harr, Rick McKay and Betsy Pollard Rau.

“There are more nominations than inductions,” said Hall of Fame founder and associate journalism professor Jim Wojcik. “All six are outstanding people. This class is one of the best.”

The eighth annual Journalism Hall of Fame Night takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Soaring Eagle Inn and Conference Center, 5665 E. Pickard Road.

The journalists were chosen for their accomplishments in the field and contributions to their communities.

Caponigro, a ’79 alumnus, is the president and CEO of Caponigro Public Relations and a former Board of Trustees chairman.

Dobek, ’81, is the vice president of public relations for the Detroit Pistons.

Harr, ’71, is a retired staff writer from the Jackson Citizen Patriot. McKay, ’76, is the Deputy Photo Editor for the White House. Rau, ’75, is a retired high school journalism teacher from H.H. Dow High School in Midland.

The banquet also will honor the 2009 Young Journalist of the Year, 2004 graduate Chris Gautz. He was editor-in-chief of Central Michigan Life for the 2003-04 academic year. Ever since, his investigative work in journalism has been praised and admired by his coworkers, according to his Hall of Fame biography.

A selection committee selects the inductees each year based on nominations from outside sources. In order to be nominated for the Hall of Fame, the nominee must have graduated more than 10 years prior to the event. For the young journalist, the nominee must have graduated less than 10 years prior to the event.

“It wasn’t terribly difficult — they’re all well-respected, accomplished professionals,” said journalism department interim chairman Tim Boudreau. “They’ve all contributed a great deal to the field.”

The panel looks for background, accomplishments and community involvement, said Director of Student Publications Neil Hopp.

“It’s about upholding the standards and ethics of CMU journalism, and what they have done with their lives,” Hopp said. “It’s how they made a difference.”