14 named to Communications Hall of Fame

Children's entertainer "Sailor Bob," veteran political reporters and a photographer who documented Richmond's history are among the 2012 inductees into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame.

The 14 inductees will be honored in a ceremony in April marking the 25th anniversary of the Hall of Fame. Television journalist Roger Mudd, one of the inaugural inductees in 1986, will serve as emcee.

The honorees, who will bring the total number of inductees to 140, are:

• Mike Allen, chief White House correspondent for Politico.com and a former reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Washington Post and Time magazine.

• Brad Armstrong, advertising executive at the Martin Agency and former president of the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation.

• The late Robert Dementi of Dementi Photography, a noted photographer who helped lead his father's longtime photography business.

• The late Margie Fisher, Roanoke Times reporter and columnist who was considered a pioneer when she was one of the first women journalists covering politics.

• Bob Griggs, "Sailor Bob," retired broadcast journalist with WWBT-TV (formerly WRVA-TV), who hosted programs for children and was the station's first weatherman.

• William C. Hall Jr., vice president of executive communications for Dominion Resources.

• James Raper, retired managing editor of the Virginian-Pilot and the writer/editor of "The Humble Steward," a syndicated wine column.

• The late Trafton Robertson, a Norfolk radio broadcaster who launched his career at WTAR and was the station's longtime morning announcer.

• The late Michael Salster, co-owner and editor of the Amelia Bulletin Monitor.

• Hampden H. Smith III, Washington and Lee University professor emeritus.

• Sabrina Squire, news anchor of WWBT-Channel 12 and host of the "Acts of Kindness" segment.

• Tyler Whitley, retired Richmond Times-Dispatch political reporter whose 50-year journalism career began at the former Richmond News Leader.

• Michael Whitlow, executive vice president of CRT/tanaka public relations.

• H. Graham Woodlief, retired president of the publishing division of Media General Inc., parent company of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Mass Communications will host the ceremony, beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. April 12 at the John Marshall in Richmond.

Tickets are $100 each and can be reserved by calling Lauren Stewart at the School of Mass Communications at (804) 827-3761. Proceeds will benefit the Hall of Fame scholarship fund at VCU and the Hall of Fame's endowment.

Media General honorees

Previous inductees of the Communications Hall of Fame who worked for the Richmond Times-Dispatch or News Leader:

Bob Brown, senior photographer, Times-Dispatch

J. Stewart Bryan III, CEO, Media General

Virginius Dabney, editor, Times-Dispatch

John F. Daffron, reporter, Times-Dispatch

Douglas Southall Freeman, editor, News Leader

Guy Friddell, columnist, News Leader

Alf Goodykoontz, executive editor, Times-Dispatch and News Leader

Overton Jones, journalist, Times-Dispatch

James J. Kilpatrick, syndicated columnist, News Leader

James H. Latimer, reporter, Times-Dispatch

John Leard, vice president, Richmond Newspapers

Jeffrey K. MacNelly, cartoonist, News Leader

Charles McDowell, columnist, Times-Dispatch

William H. Millsaps Jr., vice president and executive editor, Times-Dispatch

Roger Mudd, reporter, News Leader

Joseph E. Nettles, reporter, Times-Dispatch

R. Beverly Orndorff, science reporter, Times-Dispatch

Louise Seals, managing editor, Times-Dispatch

Ken Tomlinson, reporter, Times-Dispatch