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Muriel |
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| Of the 1977 Outstanding Citizen of the Year it has been said "... few Bereans, past or present, have had as far-reaching influence for good, or a greater heart and spirit for the community's well-being." Muriel Hardy, chronicler of the Berea scene for the News Sun, has earned this accolade. Born and raised in California, Muriel came to Berea in 1947, and, a few years later, started her newspaper career with the old Berea News under Editor Elizabeth Bradshaw. Her interest in people led to her concentration on feature writing instead of news writing, a forte which has led both to widespread reader loyalty and extensive professional recognition. She has received more than one hundred awards, both state and national, from journalism groups. She was the recipient of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary "Golden Press" award, both Ohio and national, in 1973, and in 1975 was named Suburban Journalist of the Year by Suburban Newspapers of America. Her 6-month series of investigative reports, "Far Away Places Lure Bands and Choirs," received countrywide acclaim, resulted in a number of changed laws and procedures on commercial exploitation in schools, and was nominated for a Pulitzer prize. All the diverse activities and elements making up life in Berea have received Mrs. Hardy's skilled attention - the energy crunch, Berea landmarks, institutions, businesses, traditions, senior or citizens, youth, schools, churches, organizations and Baldwin-Wallace College, to mention only a few. As a result of her sensitive, humanistic writing, Bereans, over many years, have been better-informed citizens, with heightened civic pride and a greater sense of human worth and dignity. Muriel has been a member of Berea Fine Arts, Berea Little Theatre, Women's Committees for Berea Summer Theatre and for Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. Professionally, she is a member of Sigma Delta Chi (national journalism honor society), Ohio Press Women and Ohio Newspaper Women's Association. Mrs. Hardy and her husband, Bruce, have three children. |
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| Presented February 28, 1978 | Sheraton Hopkins Airport Hotel | ||||||||||