Wood to Be Inducted Into Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Business Journal Publisher Andrea Wood is among the four journalists to be inducted into the Youngstown Press Club Hall of Fame class of 2022, the Press Club announced Monday.

Wood, along with former Vindicator editor Ernie Brown, radio broadcast personality Peter Gabriel, and television news anchorman Tom Holden, will be honored at an induction ceremony Sept. 28.  

Gabriel and Holden are posthumous inductees.

“We’re excited to honor another impressive class with induction into the Press Club’s Hall of Fame,” said Adam Earnheardt, executive director. “Although the idea for a Hall of Fame was conceptualized a few years ago, it wasn’t until last year that we had the opportunity to induct our inaugural class.”

That inaugural class included Bob Black, Stan Boney, and Ralph Zerbonia.

“The Hall of Fame ceremony allows us to properly recognize members of our local media who have given so much to our community, professionals with exceptional media careers,” Earnheardt said. 

Wood, chair and president of the Youngstown Publishing Co., is publisher of The Business Journal. In 1974, she became the first newswoman at WYTV Channel 33 in Youngstown when she was hired as a reporter and weekend anchor.

In August 1984, at the height of the steel industry’s demise in the Mahoning Valley, Wood transitioned from broadcasting and co-founded the Youngstown Business Journal. As the bi-monthly newspaper expanded coverage to the five-county region, its name was modified to The Business Journal.

The newspaper began its online presence in 1996 and in 2009, as The Business Journal celebrated its 25th anniversary, the news outlet added a webcast, the Daily Buzz.

In 2019, Wood was also inducted into the Press Club of Cleveland Hall of Fame.

She grew up in Pittsburgh and earned a degree in political science from Penn State University. Among the boards on which has served are the Citizens League of Greater Youngstown and the Workforce Investment Board of Mahoning and Columbiana Counties. Today she is secretary of the YMCA of Youngstown Board of Trustees.

Brown is best known for his tenure as the regional editor for The Vindicator, Ohio’s eighth-largest daily newspaper from 1986 to 2019, and as a reporter from 1976 to 1985.

An honors graduate of Youngstown’s East High School in 1970, Brown went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Ohio State University in 1974 and, a year later, he earned a teaching certificate in English for grades seven through 12 from Youngstown State University. 

Brown has served as the publicity co-chair for the Youngstown Chapter of the United Negro College Fund, former publicity co-chairman of the Youngstown Area March for Jesus, board member of the Youngstown Urban Minority Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Outreach Program, president of the William Swanston Charitable Fund board and member of Rising Star Baptist Church in Youngstown where he also serves as an elder. 

Gabriel’s broadcasting career began in the Armed Forces Radio and Television, while serving as an air policeman in the Azores. He was honorably discharged in 1959. 

His more than 26-year career with 570 WKBN included introducing the talk radio format to the valley in 1984, hiring some of Youngstown’s best-known voices, such as Dan Ryan, Dan Rivers, Ron Verb and Rich Morgan, while serving as operations manager.  He also created one of the first mobile radio stations, Rollin’ Radio.  

He retired from WKBN and WNIO in 2005, completing 48 years in radio broadcasting, radio management and advertising sales.  

Gabriel died in August 2021. 

Holden joined WKBN-TV in 1972 as a reporter and was named an anchor in 1974. He quickly became a local broadcasting legend. 

“Tom was credible, respected and valued,” the Press Club said in its announcement. “His special series on the mob in the Mahoning Valley was so popular people clamored to purchase copies.”  

Holden was also an adjunct instructor at Youngstown State University, where he inspired many of his students.

“Many of us met Tom at Youngstown State University, where for decades he was a favorite adjunct broadcast journalism professor,” said Michele Gatts, Tricia Perry and Marinelli in a nomination letter to the selection committee. 

Holden died in June 2005 at age 67.  

The awards ceremony and dinner will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown. 

Tickets are $50. Tables of eight are $400. Ticket information can be found at https://pressclub2022hof.eventbrite.com.

Pictured at top: Business Journal Publisher Andrea Wood, former Vindicator editor Ernie Brown, radio broadcast personality Peter Gabriel, and television news anchorman Tom Holden.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.