The Deseret News honored its own Wednesday night at the 29th annual Mark E. Petersen Awards Banquet by bestowing the traditional awards and also by creating a major new recognition -- the Robert D. Mullins Excellence in Reporting Award.
Lee Davidson, Washington, D.C., correspondent, received the inaugural award, named after a former Deseret News reporter who received the Pulitzer Prize in 1962.Davidson was described as not being distracted by the glitz of the nation's capital while running the most effective regional news office out of a shoebox-size office.
Lois Collins received the night's other major honor, the Mark E. Petersen Excellence in Writing Award, for her medical and religious news writing.
"Her writing sings," wrote one of her colleagues, who nominated her for the award. Collins also won the same honor in 1990.
Outstanding Performance Awards were given to the four employees who put together the newspaper's 150th anniversary book, "Through Our Eyes." The Deseret News turns 150 on June 15, 2000. Bob Noyce, Don Woodward, Twila Van Leer and Carma Wadley combined talents to produce the 206-page book.
Another Outstanding Performance Award was handed out to two key members of the pagination department, Heidi Perry and Mary Archbold, whose tireless work helped editors and reporters successfully convert to a new computer system during 1999.
The annual Contributor's Award, bestowed upon a non-staff writer, was given to Ann Cannon for her excellent column that has been lighting up the lives of readers for the past 21/2 years.
Seven different Special Merit Awards were bestowed at the event, held at Little America Hotel.
Heather Tuttle of the art department and Lucinda Dillon, a city desk reporter, were recognized for their work on the newspaper's wellness committee. Tuttle has helped keep the program running, while Dillon presented the original idea on the center to the newspaper's management and also helped keep the center going.
Editorial page editor Jay Evensen received a merit award for his superb writing and thinking skills that elevated the newspaper's opinion pages to new heights.
Jennifer Toomer-Cook, described by her nominator as "a city desk dynamo," earned a merit award for her special dedication in reporting.
Church News writer Sarah Weaver received a merit award as "a dedicated worker who can be relied on to follow through."
Susan Hermance of the copy desk also received a special merit award for her calm efforts and insights.
Will Madison, the Deseret News point man for computers, received the night's final special merit award for his creative efforts on interfaces that saved the newspaper thousands of dollars.
A pair of recently retired employees were recognized with Distinguished Service Club Awards. Dell Van Orden, who served as editor of the Church News for 23 years and visited 45 different countries, was honored.
The other retiree was photographer Don Grayston, who spent 47 years at the Deseret News and was described as "the ultimate gentleman photographer."
Editor and Chief Operating Officer John Hughes said 1999 was a great year for reporting with the Salt Lake tornado, the ongoing Olympic scandal and the LDS Church library shooting among the major news events.