UNCA to Present Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award
to Richard Wynne
UNC Asheville will present the 2003 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year
Award to former Asheville Citizen-Times publisher Richard Wynne at 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19, at UNCA’s Reuter Center. The award will be presented
at the Founders Dinner hosted by UNCA’s Alumni Relations Office. Wynne,
a Buncombe County native, graduated from UNCA’s predecessor,
Asheville-Biltmore College, in 1950.
Wynne played a vital role in bringing Asheville-Biltmore into the
University of North Carolina system and served on UNCA’s Board of
Trustees for many years. In 1988, Wynne received the Chancellor’s
Medallion, UNCA’s highest service award.
A veteran newspaperman, Wynne rose through the ranks at the Asheville
Citizen-Times from copy boy to president and publisher. As a teenager,
Wynne was hired as a copy boy and then as a reporter before entering the
U.S. Air Force. After his military service, Wynne returned to the paper as
a reporter, sports writer and sub-editor, working during the night while
attending college during the day. By the age of 28, he had become managing
editor, and in 1970 was named assistant to the editor. He was later
appointed as president and publisher. Wynne retired from the Citizen-Times
in 1987 to become a vice-president in the corporate parent, Multimedia
Newspaper Co. Wynne wrapped up his newspaper career as senior vice
president when the Gannett Company acquired Multimedia Newspaper Co.
Wynne has long been an advocate of civic engagement in the Asheville
community. He has served on many local boards, including the Asheville
Area Chamber of Commerce, Asheville Area Red Cross, Asheville Art Museum,
Better Business Bureau, Flynn Christian Fellowship Home, Mission St.
Joseph’s Hospital and United Way. Serving as board member and chair of
the Western North Carolina Development Association, Wynne helped establish
the Western North Carolina Farmers Market and the North Carolina
Arboretum; develop the Livestock Arena; and expand the Horticulture
Research Facility.
Tickets to the Founders Dinner are $20. For more information or to
reserve tickets, call UNCA’s Alumni Relations Office at 828/251-6512.
Media Contacts:
- Mary Chakales, UNCA Alumni Relations Director, 828/251-6693
- Merianne Epstein, UNCA Public Information Director, 828/251-6676
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