Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting
When Edgar A. McLaughlin graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism in 1931 and walked out the doors of Neff Hall, he said, "If I ever make any money, I am going to do something for this place." Years later a gift from the E.A. and Lucile McLaughlin estate recognized the country editor who not only encouraged McLaughlin to study journalism at Missouri, but also lent him $400 to do it in 1927. A former Missouri journalism student, Curtis B. Hurley was the editor of the Camden (Ark.) Evening News and the Morrilton (Ark.) Democrat. He often quoted his friend Walter Williams, founding dean of the Missouri School of Journalism, to his employees. The words of wisdom made a lifelong impression on McLaughlin, and he credited credited Hurley and the Missouri School of Journalism with turning his life around. After graduation McLaughlin worked in Tokyo at the Japan Advertiser, returned to Columbia for a short stint as editor of the University of Missouri's alumnus magazine, and served as a public relations officer on the Allied Headquarters staff during World War II. McLaughlin then began a 39-year career with Brown and Bigelow, ending his career as a district manager in the firm's advertising sales department. He and his wife retired in Los Altos, Calif., and left the bulk of their estate to the Missouri School of Journalism. [More]
Houston Harte Chair in Journalism
The family of Houston Harte, BJ '15, co-founder of the Harte-Hanks newspaper group, established the Houston Harte Chair in Journalism. Harte bought his first newspaper while still a student at the Missouri School of Journalism. At his death, he was chairman of the executive committee of Harte-Hanks Newspapers, Inc., which owned 19 newspapers and one television station. The Houston Harte Chair works as a teaching editor at the Columbia Missourian, the general-circulation daily newspaper operated by the school and staffed by students. The Chair works with students, sharing her newspaper expertise, knowledge of new media and talents as a writing coach.
