Philip N. McCombs Achievement Award Recipients:

2023

William J. Brehm, Jr.

Brehm Communications, Inc.

2022
Ronald Redfern
The Press-Enterprise, Riverside; Freedom Communications

2021

Michael Giangreco

Napa Valley Register, Gold Country Media

2020
Cheryl Dell
The Sacramento Bee

2019
Martin F. Weybret
Former publisher, Lodi News-Sentinel

2018
Gerald A. “Jerry” Bean
Century Group Newspapers, Yucaipa

2017
Cheryl Brown
Former Publisher
Black Voice News, Riverside

2016
Bruce B. Brugmann
Former Publisher
San Francisco Bay Guardian

2015
Matthew F. Wilson
Executive Editor, San Francisco Chronicle;
Editor and Publisher, Marin Independent Journal

2014
Allen P. McCombs
publisher emeritus,
Champion Newspapers, Chino

2013
Lynn Dickerson
former publisher, The
Modesto Bee; and former
VP/Operations, The
McClatchy Co.

2012
Marcia McQuern
former publisher, The
Press-Enterprise, Riverside

2011
Erwin Potts
former CEO, The
McClatchy Co.

2010
Mel Hodell
former publisher and
media broker

2009
Bill Niese
former VP and general counsel

The Times-Mirror Co., Los Angeles

2008
Martin Weinberger
Claremont Courier

2007
Mort Levine
Milpitas Post

2006
David Regan
Santa Cruz Sentinel

2005
Frank McCulloch
The Sacramento Bee,
San Francisco Examiner

2004
Fred Weybret
Lodi News-Sentinel

2003
Robert M. Lynch
The Sonoma Index-Tribune

2002
Dick Blankenburg
Arroyo Grande

2001
Mel Opotowsky
The Press-Enterprise, Riverside

2000
Anthony "Tony" Newhall
San Francisco Chronicle

1999
Samuel Matthews
Tracy Press

1998
C. Deane Funk,
Inyo Register, Bishop

1997
Robert G. Wood
Big Bear Grizzly, Big Bear Lake

1996
Rowland Rebele
Paradise Post

1995
Marge Apperson
Southern Siskiyou Newspapers

1994
Albert G. Pickerell
University of California

1993
Tom Hennion
Tulare Advance-Register

1992
Ray Spangler
Redwood City

1991
Oran W. Asa
Northeast Newspapers of Los Angeles

1990
Newton Wallace
Winters Express

1989
Fred McPherson, Jr.
Santa Cruz Sentinel