From the University of Memphis: The University of Memphis Journalism Alumni Club will honor three distinguished alumni at its annual awards banquet Thursday, October 18, at The Racquet Club of Memphis.
Michael Finger, senior editor of the Memphis Flyer and Memphis magazine, and Lynne Rooker, president and part-owner of Chandler Ehrlich Advertising, a public relations and advertising firm, will receive the Charles E. Thornton Outstanding Alumni Award.
Bob Winn, associate athletics director for external affairs at the U of M and the Athletic Department’s media spokesperson, will be honored with the Herbert Lee Williams Award.
Finger has spent nearly 20 years at Memphis magazine and the Memphis Flyer, where he helped steer Contemporary Media’s sister publications with an acute understanding of what constitutes excellent journalism.
He has written many intriguing articles in both publications and has also penned humorous, tongue-in-cheek articles, columns (“Ask Vance”) and opinions under the nom de plume Vance Lauderdale. Finger’s work has informed and entertained, and his editing skills have helped his colleagues maintain high journalistic standards.
Finger earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from the U of M and a master’s degree in English from Louisiana State University. He has received more than a dozen journalism awards, including first place honors from the Memphis Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Atlanta Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He was presented the Milton Simon Award as writer of the year from the Memphis Advertising Federation.
Lynne Rooker is one of the owners of Chandler Ehrlich Advertising and recently assumed the reins as president of the Memphis-based marketing and communications firm. She has been a partner with the business since 2002 and was senior vice president and director of client services prior to her recent promotion.
Bob Winn is the U of M’s associate athletics director for external affairs and the Athletics Department’s media relations representative. He has kept the University’s athletics programs in the forefront of Memphis’ public eye through his work with local, regional and national media outlets. Winn serves as the administrator for several of the Tiger sports teams, including men’s and women’s golf, and is the department’s liaison with the Memphis Park Commission for use of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
The Charles E. Thornton Award is named in honor of the former Memphis journalist who was killed while on assignment in Afghanistan in 1985. The Herbert L. Williams Award is named for the University of Memphis Journalism Department’s founding chairman, who died in February 2004.
Tickets for the banquet, which is open to the public, are $45 each. A cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. with dinner following at 7 p.m. Proceeds go to the Journalism Alumni Club’s scholarship fund at the University of Memphis.
Ticket information is available from the U of M Alumni Office at 901-678-3119 or from Paul Jewell at 901-529-2219.
