The Herman Roe Editorial Award given annually by the Minnesota Newspaper Association is in memory of a man who was, for more than 50 years, publisher of the Northfield News until his death in 1961.
For many years, he was a National Editorial Association (now NNA) field director and was named an honorary president of the Minnesota Editorial Association (now MNA). He was given the coveted Amos Award in 1958 by the national association.
Across the nation, because of his work as a field director, he was known as “Mr. Country Editor.” He was extremely interested in politics and believed newspapers should take strong editorial stands.
Strangely, while he encouraged his editors to write editorials, during the periods that he edited his paper, he did not write formal editorials. But every week, there was his column on the editorial page, at least a newspaper column long, that really included a group of editorials.
Award Recipients
1971-1972 Mary Dale Jester, Excelsior-Deephaven, Minnetonka Sun
1972-1973 Lynn Smith, Monticello Times
1973-1974 Owen Heiberg, Herman Review
1974-1975 Karen Anderson, Henning Advocate1975-
1976 Larry Davenport, New Hope-Plymouth Post
1976-1977 Peggy Bakken, Osseo-Maple Grove Press
1977-1978 Bill Macklin, The Journal, New Ulm
1978-1979 Frank Sisser, The Waconia Patriot1979-
1980 Myron J. Schober, Tri-County Record, Rushford
1980-1981 Jerry Ringhofer, Owatonna People’s Press
1981-1982 Karen Kitchen, Isanti News
1982-1983 Jim Blubaugh, International Falls Daily Journal
1983-1984 Mike Adair, Brooklyn Park Post
1984-1985 Jim Pumarlo, Red Wing Republican Eagle
1985-1986 Bill Hanna, Mesabi Daily News, Virginia
1986-1987 William C. Boyne, Rochester Post-Bulletin
1987-1988 Ron Lindquist, Starbuck Times
1988-1989 Arlin Albrecht, International Falls Daily Journal
1989-1990 Mary Rains & Jim Baden, Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle
1990-1991 Debra J. Flemming, Owatonna People’s Press
1991-1992 Cathy Hay, Albert Lea Tribune
1992-1993 Paul Adams, Agri News, Rochester
1993-1994 Steve Prinsen, Annandale Advocate
1994-1995 Kitty Anderson, Biwabik Times
1995-1996 Tim Krohn, The Free Press, Mankato
1996-1997 Julie Nordine, The Exponent, East Grand Forks
1997-1998 Julie Nordine, North Star News, Karlstad
1998-1999 Tom Klein, Daily Journal, International Falls
1999-2000 Al Edenloff, Echo Press, Alexandria
2000-2001 Randy Krebs, St. Cloud Times
2001-2002 Al Edenloff, Echo Press, Alexandria
2002-2003 Nathan Bowe, Detroit Lakes Newspapers
2003-2004 Al Edenloff, Echo Press, Alexandria
2004-2005 Brad Swenson, The Bemidji Pioneer
2005-2006 Randy Krebs, St. Cloud Times
2006-2007 Robin Washington, Duluth News Tribune
2007-2008 Erik Posz, Redwood Gazette, Redwood Falls
2008-2009 Larry Dobson, Star Herald, Dodge Center/Hayfield
2009-2010 Randy Krebs, St. Cloud Times
2010-2011 Jack Zaleski, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
2011-2012 Al Edenloff, Echo Press
2012-2013 Brett Larson, Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle
2013-2014 Kathy Vos, The Free Press, Mankato
2014-2015 Andrew Broman, Litchfield Independent Review
2015-2016 Chuck Frederick, Duluth News Tribune
2016-2017 Jack Zaleski, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead
2018-2019 Kathy Vos, The Free Press, Mankato
2019-2020 Joe Spear, The Free Press, Mankato