Tony Griffin Golden Word Award
The Tony Griffin Golden Word Award is awarded each year by InterCom for an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the field of professional communication in Southwest Michigan. The honor may be based on lifetime achievement or on a specific project or initiative. The award was originally created as a joint effort between InterCom and Professional Women Communicators (PWC merged with InterCom in 2006). The award is named for the former WMUK News Director and founding InterCom member, Tony Griffin. Griffin died December 30, 1997 at the age of 51. He was widely known and respected as a gifted, insightful, and incisive reporter and interviewer with a passion for finding and telling the truth.
Nominations for this award are accepted in January and the awards banquet is held in May.
2011 Tony Griffin Golden Word Award ------------------------------------- Lew Tysman - 2007 Blaine Lam - 2005 Judy Jolliffe - 2004 Stephen Trivers - 2003 Brent Larson - 2002 Joe Gagie - 2001 George Robeck - 2001 Bill Krasean - 2000 Pat Pangburn - 2000 Carol Janowicz - 1999 Glowing Embers Girl Scout Council - 1999 The Kalamazoo Gazette - 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Bobby J. Hopewell
Mayor, City of Kalamazoo
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Fetzer Center, Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan


The Mayor enthrals the crowd

State Representative Sean McCann

Commissioner David Anderson

Eric Buzzell (Borgess)

InterCom President Tom Chmielewski

Curtis Cunningham, Kallie Griffin, Robin Griffin

Master of Ceremonies Buddy Hannah

The night's speakers with Mayor Bobby Hopewell
ARCHIVE: Listen to an excerpt from Tony's News Views, The Best of 1980, click here.
Past winners of the Tony Griffin Golden Word Award:
Buddy Hannah - 2010
John Lacko - 2010
Steven C. Rhodes - 2009
Diether H. Haenicke - 2008
Ron Boyd - 2007