John J. Curley, a 1958 initiate of the Dickinson College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, is the 2022 recipient of the Pillars of Leadership Award in Communications. In addition to being a collegiate initiate of the Society, John is also a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
Currently, John is a professor, distinguished professional in residence, and co-director of the Center for Sports Journalism at Pennsylvania State University. Previously, he was the very first editor of USA Today. John was also the head of Gannett News Service, during which time the news service won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
John retired from Gannett as chairman in January 2001 after more than 30 years with the company. During his tenure, he served as an editor at the Rochester Times-Union in Rochester, New York; as editor and later publisher of the Courier-News in Bridgewater, New Jersey; and later as the publisher of the News-Journal in Wilmington, Delaware. In May 1996, John was selected as chairman of the Newspaper Association of America, and in 1999, he was made an honorary alumnus of Penn State. The John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State is named in his honor.
