C-T photo/Catherine Stortz Ripley

CAPTION: Chuck Haney.

Chillicothe native Chuck Haney, who has been involved in Chillicothe community journalism for more than 40 years, is being inducted into the Missouri Press Hall of Fame Thursday in Columbia. The induction will take place during the 142nd annual convention of the Missouri Press Association which is the newspaper trade organization in Missouri, based in Columbia. The convention will be held concurrently with the 100th anniversary celebration of the Missouri School of Journalism.

MPA founded the Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1991 to honor men and women who have lived honorably, influenced unselfishly and served their communities. A selection committee chooses inductees from among nominations submitted by acquaintances, associates and the public. Many of the Hall of Fame honorees are well-known only to their Missouri newspaper associates and the people of their communities, but some have international acclaim, among them Samuel Clemens, Joseph Pulitzer and Eugene Field.

Charles E. “Chuck” Haney, 71, served Chillicothe as editor and publisher of the Constitution-Tribune for many years, and he now serves it as the city’s mayor. At the age of 9, Haney began delivering the local paper. He dreamed of becoming a coach, but on summer break from Southwest Missouri State University in the mid-1950s, he took a job as sports writer and announcer at Chillicothe radio station, KCHI.

In 1964, the editor of the Constitution-Tribune, the late Bill Plummer, asked Haney to write sports for the paper. Sixteen years later Haney became publisher of the newspaper, a position he held for 18 years. "From the time I started in radio through now, I have stayed involved in the community,” Haney said. “We have had some great things happen in Chillicothe and for me to have had even a tiny part of it is a thrill.” Haney reflected upon his time in the newspaper business and how he was influenced by the late Bill Plummer, who worked in the Constitution-Tribune newsroom for 35 years, retiring from full-time employment in 1982. “He was a great mentor,” Haney said of Plummer. “He taught me much about community journalism.”

Haney left the daily newspaper in 1998 but continued to work in local radio. For years he has been an announcer for local high school sports and car racing. In 2001 he joined his son, Kevin, and Doug Pearson in starting a weekly newspaper called Weekly News and a shopper called The Ad Pages. That company was sold in 2004 to Gallatin Publishing Co. Haney continues to write a column and sell ads for The Ad Pages.

In 2001 Haney began serving as Chillicothe’s councilman-at-large, serving three terms. He was elected mayor in 2007. Haney has been active in many community efforts. He has been chairman of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Livingston County, president of the county Extension Council, a member of the Missouri Public Service advisory board, vice chairman of the Chillicothe Industrial Development Council, member of the board of the Grand River Area Family YMCA, Rotary Club, Cancer Society, St. Columban Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Elks Club and Eagles Lodge. He has been a volunteer probation officer and has officiated doubleheaders all over the region.

Haney served as president of Northwest Missouri Press Association in 1990, its centennial year, and of Missouri Press Association in 1995. In 1993, he served as president of his class in Leadership Missouri. He then was appointed the the Leadership Missouri Steering Committee, which organizes each year's program.

Haney's wife of 41 years, Rita, died in December 2000. They had two children, and Haney now has six grandchildren.

Missouri Press Association founded the Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1991 and Haney has been the master of ceremonies for the induction ceremony each year and has read the induction for every inductee. Haney was nominated for induction by W. Ferrell and Janice A. Shuck, of Lee's Summit. Shuck is a former publisher of the Lee's Summit Journal.

Pinnacle awards will be presented to the inductees or their families. Plaques noting their accomplishments will be displayed in the MPA building and in a student lounge at the School of Journalism. In addition to Haney, other inductees are the late Ed Lee, publisher of the Savannah Reporter; the late David Steinbeck, publisher of the Canton Press-News Journal; Robert Blosser, retired president of the News Tribune in Jefferson City; and Wally Lage, vice president and chief operating officer of Rust Communications of Cape Girardeau.