Crews received Friend of SEMO Press Award

Doug Crews, left, accepts this year's Millie Wallhausen Friend of SEMO Press award from Scott Seal, first vice president of the association.

The 2015 recipient of the Mildred Wallhausen Friend of SEMO Press Association award is no stranger to our organization or to our industry, not only in Missouri, but nationwide.

It was as a high school student that his interest in journalism was piqued, and for the next 40 plus years, his passion for journalism has not wavered as he has become one of the most visible faces and loudest voices supporting our industry in Missouri.

Doug Crews, a native of Odessa, is recognized around the nation for his advocacy work as executive director of the Missouri Press Association. He's a 1973 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He supports journalism-related issues throughout the state and is a registered lobbyist to the Missouri General Assembly. He has served in numerous leadership positions for the industry's foremost professional organizations, including Newspaper Association Managers, Inc. and the National Newspaper Association. His interest in journalism began as a student when he worked for his hometown newspaper, The Odessan, during his high school and college years. After graduation he held editor and publisher jobs at several Missouri newspapers, including the Union Franklin County Tribune, The Edina Sentinel and The Fairfax Forum before purchasing The Lawson Review. He joined the MPA in 1979 as assistant director and was named executive director in 1990. Crews served as president of the 37,000-member Mizzou Alumni Association from 2004-2005 and received the organization's prestigious Faculty-Alumni Award in 2007. In 2009, he received the Honor Medal for Distinguished Service to Journalism from M.U. His civic involvement includes organizations that champion literacy, history and developmental disabilities. He and his wife, Tricia, live in Columbia. They have two children and three grandchildren.