1981 ONPA  Annual Contest Winners

Photographer of the Year
David Andersen, The Plain Dealer

Editorial Illustration 
1st – Mimi Fuller, Cincinnati Post, “The Toxic Shock Syndrome”
2nd – Marcy Nighswander, Akron Beacon Journal, “Beating the Summer Heat”
3rd – Dennis Gordon, Akron Beacon Journal, “Drugs: More Use, Less Publicity”
HM – Jeff Hinckley, Columbus Dispatch, “Sudden Infant Death”
HM – Marcy Nighswander, Akron Beacon Journal, “Can you be a Victim of Crime?”

Editorial Illustration – Color
1st – Daniel Ho, Cleveland Press, “Whiz Kids”
2nd – Jim Fiedler, Jr., Cleveland Press, “Roadblocks to your Ancestors”
3rd – n/a

Fashion 
1st – Patrick Reddy, Cincinnati Post, “Campus Dandies”
2nd – Skip Peterson, Dayton Newspapers, “The Great Cape”
3rd – Adrienne Helitzer, Ohio University Post, “Black Tie, Finished Touches”
HM – Dennis Gordon, Akron Beacon Journal, “Beauty Cover-Up”

Fashion – Color
1st – Glen Cumberledge, Columbus Dispatch, “Lavander”
2nd – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Rouge et Noir”
3rd – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Snakeskin Shoe”
HM – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Baubles, Bangles and Beads”

Feature 
1st – n/a
2nd – Mark Duncan, Assocaited Press, “Phone from Car 24”
3rd – David Andersen, Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Animal Farm”
HM – Gordon Baer, Freelance, “Front Yard Warfare”
HM – David Cron, Toledo Blade, “Run, Here comes the Bully”
HM – Bill Wade, Akron Beacon Journal, “Monkey Kiss”
HM – Lance Wynn, Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, “Hot Dog and Chevrolet”

Feature – Color
1st – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Days of Summer”
2nd – n/a
3rd – Jim Fiedler, Jr., Cleveland Press, “Pickin’ Pumpkins”

Feature Picture Story 
1st David Andersen , Cleveland Plain Dealer, “City Mission”
2nd – n/a
3rd – n/a
HM – Bill Wade, Akron Beacon Journal, “Growing Up: at 16”
HM – Chris Clark.Sandusky Register. “A Boy Burned”
HM – Larry Kayser, Sandusky Register, “I Love You Dad”

Feature Picture Story – Color
1st – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Skin Flicks”
2nd – n/a
3rd – n/a

Food Illustration 
1st – Dennis Gordon, Akron Beacon Journal, “Eggs”
2nd – Marcy Nighswander , Akron Beacon Journal, “Walnut”
3rd – n/a

Food Illustration – Color
1st – Paul Poplis, Columbus Monthly, “Regency Torte”
2nd – Larry Lambert, Cleveland Press, “Fancy Eating out of a Can”
3rd – Paul Poplis, Ohio Magazine, “Stir Fried Pork”
HM – Paul Poplis, Ohio Magazine, “Lamb with Herbs”

General News
1st – David Andersen, Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Death Watch”
2nd – David Andersen, Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Just Another Speech”
3rd – Lew Stamp, Akron Beacon Journal, “Emotional Outburst”
HM – Eric Albrecht, New Philadelphia Times-Reporter, “We’ve been Burned”
HM – David Andersen, Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Widow’s Weep”
HM – Tim Revell, Columbus Dispatch, “A Living Victim of Cancer”
HM – Mari Schaefer, Idaho Statesman, “One Less Rabbit”

General News – Color
1st – Jim Fiedler, Jr., Cleveland Press, “A Widow Mourns”
2nd – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Living in Fear”
3rd – David Zapotosky, Elyria Chronicle Telegram, “A Mother Says Good-bye”

Industrial Illustration 

1st – Marcy Nighswander, Akron Beacon Journal, “High on Basketball”
2nd – Luke Black, Toledo Blade, “Air Controller”
3rd – Herral Long, Toledo Blade, “View from Underpass”
HM – Joseph Darwal, Cleveland Sun Newspapers, “Light Work”

Industrial Illustration – Color
1st – Daniel Ho, Cleveland Press, “Grid Work”
2nd – Herral Long, Toledo Blade, “Tower and Lights-Niagra”
3rd – Larry Burgess, Lorain Journal, “Watching the Sparks Fly”

News Picture Story
1st – Mari Schaefer, Idaho Statesman, “Rabbit Roundup #2”
2nd – David Andersen, Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Gunned Down”
3rd – n/a
HM – Mark Duncan, Associated Press, “Frustrated Veteran”
HM – Rob Engelhardt, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “Eastwood Mall Plane”
HM – Jeff Hinckley, Columbus Dispatch, “The Great Grain”
HM – David Liam Kyle, Cleveland Sun Newspapers, “Life or Death”

Pictorial
1st – n/a
2nd – Patrick Reddy, Cincinnati Post, “Swimming Pool Sweeper” 3rd – Chris Clark, Sandusky Register, “Fence Top Runner”
HM – Eric Albrecht, New Philadelphia Times Reporter, “Awaiting Winter”
HM – Chris Clark, Sandusky Register, “Where the World Ends”
HM – Adrienne Helitzer, Ohio University Post, “Mapping a Pattern”

Pictorial – Color
1st – Richard Kozak, Lorain Journal, “Winter Storm”
2nd – Eric Albrecht, New Philadelphia Times-Reporter, “Easter Eve”
3rd – Marcy Nighswander, Akron Beacon Journal, “Autumn Leaf”
HM – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Rayon Rainbow”
HM – Mark Duncan, Associated Press, “Ultralight Flight”
HM – Richard Kozak, Lorain Journal, “Kurt Veterans Day”
HM – Mari Schaefer, Columbus Dispatch, “Dill Family Farm”

Portrait/Personality 
1st – n/a
2nd – n/a
3rd – Rob Engelhardt, Warren Tribune Chronicle, “The Man who Led the Rescue Attempt”
HM – Adrienne Helitzer, Ohio University Post, “Tough Keen and Always Neat”
HM – Gordon Baer, Freelance, “Her Own War Path”
HM – Paul Tepley, Cleveland Press, “Muscles to Spare”

Portrait/Personality – Color
1st – Richard Kozak, Lorain Journal, “Jesus Man”
2nd – Gus Chan, Kent-Ravenna Record Courier, “Prayer to the Icon”
3rd – Lynne Sladky, Freelance, “Walter, Tug Boat Worker”
HM – Richard Kozak, Lorain Journal, “Papa Joe”

Sports Action 
1st – Ron Kuntz, United Press international, “1. Jawbreaker “, “2. Melt Down”, “3. Never Touched Me”
2nd – Terry Bochatey, United Press International, “Game, Set, Match”
3rd – n/a
HM – Jim Baron, Painesville Telegraph, “Untitled”
HM – Ron Kuntz, United Press International, “Home Plate Dance Step”
HM – Ron Kuntz, United press International, “Out of Reach”

Sports Action – Color
1st – Paul Tepley, Cleveland Press, “Come to Me”
2nd – George Smallsreed, U.S. Trotting Association, “Undefeated End”
3rd – Richard Kozak, Lorain Journal, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”
HM – Tim Culek, Cleveland Press, “White Fumbles”

Sports Feature
1st – n/a
2nd n/a
3rd – Amy Sancetta, Associated Press, “A Last Second Victory, A Last Second Defeat”
HM – Patrick Reddy, Cincinnati Post, “Shirt and Skins”
HM – Lance Wynn, Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, “First Win after 15 Losses”

Sports Feature – Color 
1st – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Jump for Joy”
2nd – Tim Revell, Columbus Dispatch, “Marathon Debris”
3rd – n/a
HM – Paul Tepley, Cleveland Press, “Beaming Bengal”

Sports Picture Story 
1st – n/a
2nd – Dennis Gordon, Akron Beacon Journal, “Mat Missus”
3rd – n/a
HM – Dennis Gordon, Akron Beacon Journal, “Going Greyhound”

Sports Picture Story – Color
1st – n/a
2nd – n/a
3rd – n/a
HM – Ott Gangl, Akron Beacon Journal, “Indians Training Camp”
HM – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Tripped UP Rider”

Spot News (over 50,000)
1st – Skip Peterson, Dayton Newspapers, “Trapped by the Dam”
2nd – Craig Holman, Columbus Dispatch, “River Rescue”
3rd – Susan Ogrocki, United Press International, “Angry Confrontation”
HM – David Cron, Toledo Blade, “Mother’s Grief”
HM – Patrick Reddy, Cincinnati Post, “Busted”

Spot News (over 50,000) – Color
1st – Larry Nighswander, Cleveland Press, “Tornado Victim”
2nd – Robert Yosay, Youngstown Vindicator, “Blazing Inferno”
3rd – n/a

Spot News (under 50,000)
1st – Cathaleen Curtiss, Lorain Journal, “Well Rescue”
2nd – Richard Kozak, Lorain Journal, “Fireman Fails on Life Attempt”
3rd – Kevin Reeves, Cleveland Sun Newspapers, “A Father’s Grief”
HM – Mike Fender, Xenia Daily Gazette, “Questioning”

Spot News (under 50,000) – Color 
1st – David Zapotosky, Elyria Chronicle Telegram, “Crossing the Picket Line”
2nd – Tom Brunk, Nationwide Insurance, “Condo for Sale”
3rd – n/a

Photographers of the Year

Click on the year to view contest results

2023 – Jeremy Wadsworth, The Blade
(Large Market)
Andrew Dolph, The Times Reporter
(Small Market)

2022 – Adam Cairns, The Columbus Dispatch (Large Market)
Shane Flanigan, ThisWeek Community News (Small Market)

2021 – Joshua A. Bickel, The Columbus Dispatch (Large Market)
Bill Lackey, Springfield News-Sun (Small Market)

2020 – Meg Vogel – Cincinnati Enquirer (Large Market)
Jessica Phelps – The Newark Advocate (Small Market)

2019Meg Vogel – Cincinnati Enquirer (Large Market)
Jessica Phelps – The Newark Advocate (Small Market)

2018 Meg Vogel – Cincinnati Enquirer (Large Market)
Jessica Phelps – The Newark Advocate (Small Market)

2017 – Joshual A. Bickel – The Columbus Dispatch (Large Market)
Jessica Phelps – The Newark Advocate (Small Market)

2016 – Meg Vogel – Cincinnati Enquirer (Large Market)
Jessica Phelps – The Newark Advocate (Small Market)

2015 – Carrie Cochran – Cincinnati Enquirer (Large Market)
Jessica Phelps – The Newark Advocate (Small Market)

2014 – Eamon Queeney – The Columbus Dispatch (Large Market)
Jessica Phelps – The Newark Advocate (Small Market)

2013 – Katie Rausch – The (Toledo) Blade (Large Market)
Joshua A. Bickle – ThisWeek Community Newspapers (Small Market)

2012 – Gus Chan – The Plain Dealer (Large Market)
Bill Lackey – Springfield News-Sun (Small Market)

2011 – Lisa DeJong – The Plain Dealer (Large Market)
Bill Lackey – Springfield News-Sun (Small Market)

2010 – Lisa DeJong – The Plain Dealer (Large Market)
(no Small Market award given)

2009 – Fred Squillante – The Columbus Dispatch (Large Market)
Bill Lackey – Springfield News-Sun (Small Market)

2008 – Lisa De Jong – The Plain Dealer

2007 – Chris Russell – The Columbus Dispatch

2006 – John Kuntz – The Plain Dealer

2005 – Mike Levy – The Plain Dealer

2004 – John Kuntz – The Plain Dealer

2003 – Dale Omori – The Plain Dealer

2002 – Ed Suba Jr. – Akron Beacon Journal

2001 Mike Levy – The Plain Dealer

2000 – Mike Levy – The Plain Dealer

1999 – Karen Schiely – Akron Beacon Journal

1998– Mike Levy – The Plain Dealer

1997 – Fred Squillante – Columbus Dispatch

1996 Eric Albrecht – The Columbus Dispatch

1995 Eric Albrecht – The Columbus Dispatch

1994 – Allan Detrich – The Blade

1993 – Ed Suba Jr. – Akron Beacon Journal

1992 – Allan Detrich – The (Toledo) Blade

1991 – Mike Levy – The Plain Dealer

1990 – Ed Suba Jr. – Akron Beacon Journal

1989 – Dale Omori – The Plain Dealer

1988 – Eric Albrecht – The Columbus Dispatch

1987 – Eric Albrecht – The Columbus Dispatch

1986 – Tim Barman – Kent State University

1985 – Melvin Grier – Cincinnati Post

1984 Lois Bernstein – Ohio University

1983 – Eric Albrecht – The (New Philadelphia) Times Reporter

1982 – Steve Ilko – Warren Tribune Chronicle

1981 – David Andersen – The Plain Dealer

1980 – Bob Dickerson – Cincinnati Post

1979 – Gail Fisher – Ohio University

1978 – Natalie Fobes – Cincinnati Enquirer

1977 – David Griffin – Ohio University

1976 – Marcia Nighswander – Akron Beacon Journal – No other results from that year

1975 – No results from 1975

1974 – Michael Good – Lorain Journal

1973

1972

1971

1970 – Jim Gordon – Bowling Green State University

1967 – Herral Long – The (Toledo) Blade
No other results from 1967

1960 

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