• Richard Zimmerman ’56 - Continues Family Legacy
• G. Frederick Aigner - Devotes Life to Service
• Carrie Vonderhaar ’99 - Captures the Underwater World
• Martin J. Uhle ’85 - Climbs the Corporate Ladder
• Tony Roseboro ’82 - Delivers on Stage and in the Courtroom
• Amy Varsek ’94 - Takes Adventure to Another Level

A renowned journalist, author and editor, Richard Zimmerman has enjoyed a successful career chronicling politics, government and the many foibles of modern man, earning numerous awards for journalistic excellence in the process.

The former chief of the Washington Bureau of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the former president of the National Press Club, Zimmerman continues to write for national publications, 50 years after continuing a legacy at Wittenberg.

His grandfather John Zimmerman, for whom Zimmerman Hall on campus is named, and his father, Charles B. Zimmerman, a member of the Ohio Supreme Court, both graduated from Wittenberg, the same institution that on May 14 recognized Richard Zimmerman with an honorary doctorate of humane letters for achievements in his field.

“More than one hundred years ago Wittenberg took unto its bosom a frightened, skinny farm boy from northern Ohio, the first in his family to attend any college, and helped him to become a successful attorney who later would repay this debt by dedicating a library on campus in memory of his late brother Joseph, a Lutheran minister who died much too young. Later, in 1952, the same Wittenberg welcomed this man’s grandson, an equally frightened, skinny city boy from Springfield, who today proudly accepts an honorary degree in humane letters,” Zimmerman said in his remarks.

After graduating from Wittenberg, Zimmerman went on to earn his master’s degree from American University followed by service in the U.S. Air Force before becoming a leader in the field of journalism. Yet, he still remains grateful to his alma mater for setting him on his successful course.

“If John L. Zimmerman’s grandson – me – has anyone to thank for this honor, it is Wittenberg itself.

“Wittenberg nurtured me during my most formative, post-high school years...[and] I am forever reminded of the number of fine friends I made during my four years at Wittenberg and have kept track of for so long since that time almost 50 years ago.”

—Karen Gerboth ’93