CALLAHAN, DAVIS TO BE INDUCTED INTO APA HALL OF HONOR

AUBURN – Ralph Callahan and Neil O. Davis, both of whom made their marks on Alabama journalism as editors and publishers of Alabama community newspapers, will be inducted posthumously into the Alabama Press Association Newspaper Hall of Honor at Auburn University on Sept. 17.

Callahan and Davis will become the 96th and 97th inductees into the Hall of Honor, which was established by the APA in 1959. Plaques honoring the pair will be placed in the Hall of Honor Room at the AU’s Ralph Brown Draughon Library, where the induction ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

Callahan lived a colorful life and had many facets to his personality and his ability. He started his career as a cub reporter with The Anniston Star and soon took a job with The National Banner in the 1920s. He was a speech writer for Tom Kilby, who became governor of Alabama. He spent some time as a travel agent and also worked as an advance man for a trick golfer and a flying circus.

In the Anniston area, Mr. Callahan was known as “Mr. Fort McClellan” or “Mr. Army” because of his devotion to the Armed Forces. He headed the Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee for about 25 years and received numerous recognitions from the U.S. Army.

He was an astute businessman and headed several holdings in the Anniston area. He acted as a consultant and a counselor to people in different organizations.

Callahan was active in expanding the papers for Consolidated Publishing Co. In 1963, he negotiated the purchase of The Jacksonville News, a weekly with a circulation of about 3,000. In 1964, he did the same with another weekly with about the same circulation, The Piedmont Journal.

About a year later, he negotiated the purchase of The Daily Home of Talladega. The Daily Home has a paid circulation of approximately 10,000. In addition to his other duties with Consolidated's holdings, he became president and publisher of The Daily Home.

Callahan was an icon in the press of Alabama and the South for many years. In addition to his responsibilities at The Anniston Star, and other papers of Consolidated Publishing Co., he was instrumental in helping make The Anniston Star known as an outstanding paper. When he was president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association in 1969, he brought the group from a “good ole boys” club in Chattanooga, Tenn., to the newspaper organization. He headed the Alabama Press Association in 1965 and led the organization to become a greater factor in the state and the industry.

Davis was a leader in his profession, in his community and in his state. He was known for his vision, energy, integrity, conviction, loyalty, tenacity and, above all, courage.

His career began in the mid-1930s as a reporter with The Dothan Eagle, The Northwest Georgia Journal (Rossville) and The Southwest Georgian (Fort Gaines). In 1937, he co-founded The Lee County Bulletin, later renamed The Auburn Bulletin, which he served as editor and publisher.

He was known for clearly presenting his positions on issues through his editorials, a practice he started in 1934 as editor of his college newspaper, The Auburn Plainsman. The popularity of a cause mattered little to him; he took a position “because it was the right thing to do” or “the Christian thing to do.”

His obituary in The Auburn Bulletin stated, “Davis believed in making a conscious and public commitment to back liberal causes at a time when it was unpopular in Alabama. He spoke out for the unskilled, rural worker being exploited by industry. Thus began a lifelong interest in improving public education. Davis’ editorials were outspoken on poll tax, voting discrimination, segregation and politicians’ personal agendas.” His newspaper was nominated for the Pulitzer in 1959 and 1966, but he had many detractors in Alabama. He frequently was verbally skewered, and he received a few serious threats, but he never wavered from his convictions.

He served on President Lyndon B. Johnson’s National Advisory Commission on Rural Poverty from 1966 to 1968.

Davis is Alabama’s only Nieman Fellow (1941-42) from a weekly newspaper. He was Alabama Press Association president in 1947 and gave freely of his time to association business. He championed press freedom.

Although remembered best for his strong editorials, he demanded that every news story be interesting, clear and accurate.

Auburn University is a comprehensive research institution with more than 23,000 students and 6,500 faculty and staff. Ranked among the top 50 public universities nationally, Auburn is Alabama’s largest educational institution, offering more than 230 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs.

(Contributed by Kevin Loden.)

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