Tom Emmerson, professor of journalism and mass communication, was honored Friday with the Distinguished Service Award by the Iowa Newspaper Association.

Emmerson is the second faculty member from ISU to be recognized by the INA.

The award is presented for outstanding service to the newspaper profession and the community.

“They put together a monologue of achievements, which were very flattering, and I really appreciate it,” Emmerson said. “Anyone has got to feel good about being recognized for service — service which means and includes many things.”

Emmerson officially was presented the award Friday at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines.

“It was very nice to be recognized by people who are in my field,” he said. “I was more flattered to be nominated than to win.”

He was nominated by Bill Konnerth, former faculty member of the journalism department, and Michael Gartner, editor of The Tribune.

John Eighmey, chairman of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said Emmerson’s award is an honor for the journalism department.

“I think it was an extraordinary award for a gentleman scholar who has a profound impact on journalism education, this program and the state of Iowa,” he said.

Emmerson came to ISU in 1974 as a journalism professor,and worked to fight the Board of Regents.

“They had recommended the journalism department to be eliminated,” Emmerson said. “Well, we got organized with alumni, and we had lots of students.”

Emmerson said saving the department was his main accomplishment.

“We were in the brink of oblivion and now have a school of journalism and a $9 million gift,” he said. “That makes me feel good.”

Emmerson said he always knew he had a passion for journalism.

“I think it was the process of elimination — I knew what I wasn’t good at,” he said. “I was always interested in news as a kid. I also like to write. I like the whole idea of writing and what journalists do.”

Emmerson was recognized along with Gary Spurgeon, publisher of The Bloomfield Democrat; James Flansburg, former editorial page editor of The Des Moines Register; and Jack Marlowe, former sports editor at The Maquoketa Sentinel-Press.