It’s showtime. The Nevada Press Association board will vote on 2017 Hall of Fame inductees in an Aug. 4 conference call. This Friday.
Winners will be inducted at September’s Carson City convention.
It’s photographer Don Dondero’s long overdue turn. In a world-class career, his work appeared in this newspaper and just about everywhere else.
As a fellow Donderite remarked when we fell short a couple of years back, had I started the campaign right after he died in 2003, he would have been elected in a walk. I didn’t think of it until I campaigned for Guy Richardson in 2012. Because Guy was an inaugural member of the Barbwire Molly Ivins Memorial Columniator Hall of Fame, I considered it blasphemous that the former Reno Gazette-Journal entertainment editor was not among the icons in the NPA holy of holies. Ditto Dondero.
Despite varied careers, Big Don and diminutive Guy share a major claim to fame: Frank Sinatra. Guy made national headlines when the enraged Chairman of the Board hisself called the newsroom over what the superstar singer considered (ahem) disrespectful reportage.
Dondero took the most famous photo ever shot of Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. To this day, Dondero even owns the wallpaper in the RGJ foyer. His photos covering the Lake Tahoe kidnaping of Frank Sinatra, Jr., dominate the front page of the 9 December 1963 edition – blown up 12 feet high.
At Barbwire.US, you may view all of the above and much more along with my remembrances of Don, testimonials and lots of photos, of course.
Please pass the following list along to any Donderites you may know. Ask them to call, write, send carrier pigeons, whatever’s handy, especially if they know people in the towns noted.
NPA President Kelly Scott, Reno Gazette-Journal 775-327-6785 <kscott@rgj.com>
Steve Ranson, Lahontan Valley News 775-423-6041 <sranson@lahontanvalleynews.com>
Ric Anderson, Las Vegas Sun 702-259-2333 <ric.anderson@lasvegassun.com>
Nancy Streets (former Tribune sales manager) Elko Daily Free Press, 775-748-2704 <nstreets@elkodaily.com>
Kurt Hildebrand, Gardnerville Record-Courier 775-782-5121 ext. 21 <khildebrand@recordcourier.com>
Glenn Cook, Las Vegas Review-Journal 702-383-8647 <gcook@reviewjournal.com>
Kirk Kern, Sparks Trib/Battle Born Media 775-316-2335 <sparkstribune.kirk@gmail.com>
Sherman Frederick, Tribune boss 702-525-2440 <shermfrederick@gmail.com>
Scott Sibley, Nevada Legal News (702) 382-2747 <ssibley@nevadalegalnews.com>
Vernon Robison, Moapa Valley Progress (702) 397-6246 <vrobison@mvprogress.com>
Matt Dierlam, Winnemucca Publishing (775) 623-5011 ext. 203 <m.dierlam@winnemuccapublishing.net>
Copy your endorsements to NPA Executive Director Barry Smith <nevadapress@att.net> and the Barbwire, below.
Let’s party for Dondero in his home town next month.
Do it for Don, dammit!
PHOTO FINISH. Dondero’s shots get more enjoyable if you can read the captions. In the interests of literacy, the Duncan Community Library celebrates its 20th anniversary 2:00-4:00 p.m. this Sunday at 1650 Carville Drive in northeast Reno.
The event features contests, drawings for prizes and free ice cream sundaes. The first 80 kids get free backpacks. To go with them, longtime librarian Marilyn Jones has new books (yes, they still print those things), free from Barnes & Noble. Info: 775-333-5134 or <MCJones@washoeschools.net>
CORRECTION from last week’s column, “Sparks’ flying philosopher Hanks dies at 91.” My friend John Thomas Hanks, Jr., was born on 13 April 1926 in Colorado Springs. I will post a photo retrospective at Barbwire.US/
May the driver of the great iron bird rest in peace.
Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno. (Pardon my Spanglish.)
Andrew Barbano is a 48-year Nevadan and editor of NevadaLabor.com. E-mail <barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us> Barbwire by Barbano has originated in the Tribune since 1988.