30th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony—Mark Michelson

I realize that I’m dating myself, but the 2014 class of Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame honorees, pictured on our cover, marks the 30th year that we’ve been presenting this honor in conjunction with the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Media Sciences. That amounts to 120 names—representing a virtual Who’s Who of industry leaders, past and present— inscribed on plaques hanging on a wall at RIT to help inspire future generations of graphic arts professionals.

The inductees are honored at a combined Hall of Fame & Gold Ink Awards Gala (view this year’s Gold Ink Award winners starting on page 36) held annually during GRAPH EXPO in Chicago. It’s very rewarding, personally, to oversee the Hall of Fame voting process and awards presentation. Over the years, I’ve seen silver-tongued execs—used to addressing large groups—literally standing at the podium speechless, with tears flowing down their faces as the emotion of their long Hall of Fame journeys overpower them.

There have been many special award cermony moments when I think back about attending three decades of Hall of Fame banquets. I’ll never forget the induction of Judd’s Thomas Manning, who received his award in 1991. Left to raise 10 children following the death of his wife, Manning himself—unbeknownst to our staff—was battling the draining effects of a terminal illness as he struggled to address the audience, which included his elderly mother and all 10 of his kids.

Similarly rewarding have been the induction ceremonies of several members of the Quadracci family, of Quad/Graphics fame—and arguably the printing industry’s equivalent of a royal family. Founder Harry V. Quadracci was inducted in 1986, followed by his father Harry R. in 1998, his brother Tom in 2006 and, finally, his son Joel in 2011. It constitutes a rich family legacy of past Hall of Fame inductees that will never be duplicated. It will also be interesting to see if Quad/Graphics, now a public company, remains family controlled long enough for one of Joel’s offspring to some day continue the family legacy, and perhaps earn his or her place within the Printing Industry Hall of Fame.

Kudos to this year’s inductees: Jon Budington, David DeLana, Marty Liebert and Christopher Pierce. Joining the ranks of industry leaders honored before them, they’ve earned their moment in the limelight.