2007 Founder's Award: John Callaway

The late John Callaway played an important role in the early years of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. For his dedication to furthering the Museum & Library's mission, he received the Founder's Award in 2007.

John Callaway began his broadcast career in 1957 at WBBM Chicago. He received the PMML Founder's Award during his 50th year in broadcasting, while still serving as host and senior editor for Chicago Stories and Friday Night on WTTW, and as host of the Museum & Library's monthly series Front & Center with John Callaway.

From humble beginnings on the city beat to earn the respect and admiration of a generation of reporters, journalists, and his fellow broadcasters—not to mention television audiences—Callaway quietly and steadfastly set the highest standard of integrity in all of his work. His interviews include unforgettable portraits of presidents, heads of state, local and national political leaders and rights activists, authors, statesmen, entrepreneurs, journalists, and sports legends—nearly  anyone who had a valuable opinion on the story of the day.

Callaway won more than 70 awards for his work, including seven Emmys and a Peabody, and was recognized with the Benton Medal fromn the University of Chicago for "the most extraordinary service to the field of education and to the University." He received ten honorary doctorate degrees, including those from Northwestern University, Loyola University, and the John Marshall College of Law.

Callaway was a mentor to a generation of journalists on television and as the founding director of the University of Chicago's William Benton Fellowships in Broadcast Journalism. He helped to develop the Museum & Library's programming as host of Front & Center with John Callaway.

The Chicago Tribune described Callaway as "the best in the business." The Chicago Sun-Times reported, "...his colleagues widely consider him the best interviewer on television...he is Chicago television's conscience." In recognition of his extraordinary career, Mayor Richard M. Daley designated October 5, 2007 as John Callaway Day in Chicago.

Callaway passed away June 23, 2009 at age 72 after suffering a heart attack He is survived by his wife Sandra and daughters Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway.