By all accounts, John Hudnall is a scholastic journalism super hero.

Accolades from across the country included in his 2009 Carl Towley nomination speak to his influence as he shared his passion, knowledge and humor as a classroom teacher/adviser for 28 years, lecturer in journalism at the University of Kansas and executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association for 15 years and popular speaker at nearly 30 different workshop sites in a dozen states for nearly two decades.

Linda Drake, Chase County High School journalism adviser worked with Hudnall on the KSPA Board and credits the organization’s growth to his leadership.

“His dedication and loyalty to KSPA helped our state grow tremendously. We now offer three fall conferences across the state, a junior high workshop, story-of-the-month competition, six regional contests, and a state contest,” Drake wrote in her nomination. “He has also been instrumental in the creation and organization of the Jackie Engel/KSPA Endowment Foundation, in honor of Kansas’ dear friend and supporter of scholastic journalism.”

Phyllis Wipf, former KSPA president, added to the nomination. “It was obvious that what was best for the organization was his constant concern,” she wrote. “He drove to state mini-workshops, organizing, leading and speaking in an attempt to bring resources to all parts of the state.”

His influence extended beyond the state. He co-authored “Writing and Editing School News,”
judged for other state and national association contests, and spoke at national and regional workshops and conventions.

“John Hudnall is one of the outstanding leaders in scholastic journalism,” wrote Richard “Dick” Johns, former executive director of Quill and Scroll “He has shared his expertise and knowledge with thousands of students and advisers. Excellence in scholastic journalism and John Hudnall are one in the same.”

Hudnall was also known for making learning fun.

“John takes want he does seriously, but he delivers it all with a sense of humor — dry delicious humor at that! His lack of pretense is refreshing,” wrote Cheryl Pell, then director of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association. “I’ve learned so much from John, especially about running a press association.”

Hudnall received the Gold Key and the James Paschal awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Pioneer award from National Scholastic Press Association, Distinguished Adviser award from the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund and the Distinguished Service award from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association before being named the 2009 Carl Towley winner by JEA.