What’s New with Grady Alumni

• Condolences go to the family of Creg Smith (ABJ ’90) on his recent death. His obituary can be read here. (July 5, 2022)
• Congratulations to Brent Hyams (ABJ ’94 ) on his new position as general manager of Cannery Row, a performing arts space in Nashville. (May 27, 2022)
• Congratulations to Stacy Willingham (ABJ ’13), whose first novel, A Flicker in the Dark, landed on the New York Times Bestseller list. Read here for a profile by the UGA Alumni Association. (May 19, 2022)
• Congratulations to Pam Avery (ABJ ’72) on the release of her new book, The Tanner Side of Town. (May 10, 2022)
• Congratulations Alex Urban (MA ’12) on being named executive director of the TOUR Championship.
• It is with sadness that we recognize the death of Connie Ward. Ward served in a variety of communications roles, including Jimmy Carter’s gubernatorial campaign teams and later on the nation’s first State Film Commission.
• Congratulations Cal Massey (ABJ ’78) on the publication of his first novel, “Own Little Words.” The book won an award from the Journal of Experimental Fiction in Chicago. Massey said: “I wanted to let you know that my love of writing and respect for journalism as necessary, important work was discovered and nurtured at UGA. A 65-year-old first time novelist remains in love with words.” (April 15, 2022)
• Our condolences to the family of former Grady professor James Aldridge (ABJ ’60, MA ’62) who passed away March 26, 2022.
• Congratulations, Katie Barlow (ABJ ’11), who was named chief legal correspondent for WTTG Washington.
• Stacy Willingham (ABJ ’11) has a new mystery out, “A Flicker in the Dark.” The book is on the 2022 Goodreads Readers’ Most Anticipated Mystery list and is an Amazon Books Editor’s Pick for one of the best thrillers in January.
• Congratulations to Richard Dunn, Sr. (ABJ ’93), for receiving one the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Awards for his work with Athens-Clarke County’s School Completion Initiative. (Jan. 14, 2022)
• Kelly Wegel (ABJ ’09) has been appointed as Associate Judge for the Athens-Clarke Magistrate Court. (Dec. 28, 2021)
• Ben Mayer (ABJ ’05) has been named Senior Broadcast Producer for NBC Nightly News.
• Congratulations on 50 years on the Bulldog broadcast team, Loran Smith (ABJ ’62). Smith also received the Dean’s Medal from our College in 2017.
• Our College shares our thoughts with the family of Gary Scott Jones (ABJ ’80). The former editor of the Elberton Star passed away in November
• We were saddened to hear of the death of Hilliard D. Jones (ABJ ’56) on Oct. 21, 2021. (Oct. 27, 2021)
• Our condolences to the family of Wade Ricks (ABJ ’76) on his death. (Oct. 24, 2021)
• We mourn the death of alumnus and Grady graphics professor Robert Willett (ABJ ’66, MFA ’73).
• Ed Nichols (ABJ ’62) recently published his second book: “Perfect Land.” It is a collection of prose poems and is available on Amazon.
• We share our condolences with the family of Sam Davis Bersagael (AB ’18), who passed away in October. The Red & Black wrote a remembrance (Oct. 25, 2021.)
• Robin Hommel (ABJ ’96) is now the Executive Broadcast Producer at ABC’s ‘The View.”
• Fred Smith (MA ’78) received the 2021 Council Award of Special Recognition from the ASALH: Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
• Congratulations to Amanda Rosseter (ABJ ’90) for joining PNC Financial Services Group as its chief communications officer.

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