Each year, the Friends of the Texan, Inc. recognizes outstanding graduates of The Daily Texan. That list includes former Texan staffers who have achieved great success in their careers, whether in media or any other endeavor. They are honored at an annual banquet held each year in The Texas Union’s Shirley Bird Perry Ballroom.
Awards are also granted to Rising Star honorees who are just beginning their career.
And a special award named in honor of well-known and respected journalist and professor S. Griffin (Griff) Singer honors an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to The Daily Texan and journalism overall.
2021 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Martin Crutsinger
Sam Keach
Dave McNeely
John Moore
John Reetz
Krissah Williams Thompson
Griff Singer Award
Fernando Dovalina
Rising Star Award
Cassandra Jaramillo
Kelsey McKinney
Maria Mendez
2020 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Laura Beil
Richard Cole
David DeVoss
Bill Little
Renae Merle
John McConnico
Jean-Marc Bouju
Griff Singer Award
Art Rinn
Dolores Moore Ebert Rinn
Rising Star Award
Abby Johnston
2019 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Hartley Hampton
Randy Harvey
Dr. Leon McNealy
Sylvan Rodriguez
John Schwartz
Janice Tomlin
Judy Walgren
Griff Singer Award
Olin Hinkle
Rising Star Award
Demi Adejuyigbe
2018 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Margaret Koy Kistler
Horace Busby Jr.
Frederick Benjamin “Fred” Gipson
Lucian Perkins
Elmer Kelton
Griff Singer
Elaine Corn
Dotty Griffith
Griff Singer Award
Robert Hilburn
Rising Star Award
Madlin Mekelburg
Katey Psencik
2017 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Sam Blair
Berke Breathed
Skeeter Hagler
Shirley Strum Kenny
Frank Luksa
Robert Rodriguez
Tex Schramm
Griff Singer Award
Richard Finnell
Rising Star Award
Bobby Blanchard
Hayley Fick
2016 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Deborah Howell
Kaye Northcott
Larry Price
Mike Quinn
Gayle Reaves
Senator Judith Zaffirini
Griff Singer Award
Ron Gibson
Paul J. Thompson
Rising Star Award
Emma Graves Fitzsimmons
2015 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Ronnie Dugger
John Pope
Jan Jarboe Russell
Mary Walsh
Liz Smith
George Christian
Granville Price
Griff Singer Award
DeWitt Carter Reddick
Rising Star Award
Lomi Kriel
2014 Honoree
Hall of Fame Griff Singer Award: Created in honor of legendary professor and Journalist Griff Singer
2013 Honorees
Hall of Fame
Walter Cronkite
Willie Morris
Liz Carpenter
Lady Bird Johnson
Fritz Lanham
Helene Wilke McNaughton
Karen Tumulty
Ben Sargent
Karen Elliott House
Bill Moyers
Dick Elam
Rising Star Award
Bryan Mealer