Del Brinkman, renowned dean of the University of Kansas and a Rotary Club of Bloomington member, was inducted into the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame on April 20th. Del is shown above with his wife, Carolyn Backer Brinkman (left), and fellow Bloomington Rotarian Ron Johnson and Betty Johnson.

The ceremony was at the Kansas Press Association awards banquet in Overland Park, Kansas. Del, an Olpe, Kansas, native and renowned journalism dean at the University of Kansas, worked in community journalism and scholastic journalism in Kansas, and at Kansas State before directing journalism programs at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. He is the only educator inducted into this group of newspaper leaders.

Joining me (Ron Johnson) in the nomination was Paul Stevens, former vice president and Kansas City bureau chief for the Associated Press.

The Bloomington Rotary Club recently demonstrated their support for the People and Animal Learning Services (PALS) program by generously donating $966.72. The donation from the Bloomington Rotary Club enables PALS to upgrade some of their therapeutic horseback riding equipment.

“PALS makes a big difference in the lives of children and adults with physical, learning and emotional disabilities,” said Bloomington Rotary Club President Jon Dilts

For more information on PALS please visit www.palstherapy.org or contact PALS at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 812-336-2798