John J. Curley Receives National Award from Omicron Delta Kappa
Lexington, VA (08/08/2022) — John J. Curley, a resident of Potomac, Maryland, is the 2022 recipient of Omicron Delta Kappa's Pillars of Leadership Award in Communications.
Curley is a 1958 initiate of the Dickinson College Circle (chapter) Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). In addition to being a collegiate initiate of ODK, he is a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. After earning his baccalaureate degree from Dickinson, Curley completed a master's degree from Columbia University. He is currently a professor, distinguished professional in residence, and co-director of the Center for Sports Journalism at Pennsylvania State University.
Previously, Curley was the very first editor of USA Today. Curley was also the head of Gannett News Service, during which time the news service won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. He retired from Gannett as chairman in January 2001 after more than 30 years with the company. During that time, Curley served as an editor at the Rochester Times-Union in Rochester, New York; as editor and later publisher of the Courier-News in Bridgewater, New Jersey; and later as the publisher of the News-Journal in Wilmington, Delaware. In May 1996, he was selected as chairman of the Newspaper Association of America, and in 1999, he was made an honorary alumnus of Penn State. The John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State is named in his honor.
Omicron Delta Kappa Society, the National Leadership Honor Society, was founded in Lexington, Virginia, on December 3, 1914. A group of 15 students and faculty members established the Society to recognize and encourage leadership at the collegiate level. The founders established the ODK Idea-the concept that individuals representing all phases of collegiate life should collaborate with faculty and others to support the campus and community. ODK's mission is to honor and develop leaders; encourage collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and alumni; and promote ODK's leadership values of collaboration, inclusivity, integrity, scholarship, and service on college and university campuses throughout North America. The Society's national headquarters are located in Lexington, Virginia.