Since 1991, 44 very deserving individuals have been presented with the Inland Foundation Distinguished Service Award. This year’s recipient — Charles Pittman — has not only distinguished himself as a respected newspaper and publishing executive, but also as an All-American student-athlete and professional football player.
The award was presented Tuesday, Sept. 29, at the Senior Leadership Conference awards luncheon by Marc Wilson, a former board president of the Inland Press Foundation. Wilson is the founder and chairman of BLOX Digital and a former chairman of the Inland Press Foundation. He also serves as a director of the America's Newspapers Foundation.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Pittman attended Penn State University on a football scholarship as a member of legendary head coach Joe Paterno’s first recruiting class. As a running back for the Nittany Lions, he became Paterno’s first All-America running back and was also recognized as an Academic All-American, exemplifying Penn State’s ideal of achievement both on the field and in the classroom.
During his three varsity seasons, Pittman rushed for 2,236 yards and 30 touchdowns and finished his Penn State career without a loss in a game he started, compiling a remarkable 30-0-1 record. His 1968 and 1969 teams went undefeated in consecutive seasons and won back-to-back Orange Bowls, helping establish Penn State among the nation’s elite college football programs. In 1968 alone, Pittman rushed for 950 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a senior in 1969, he led the Nittany Lions in rushing and scoring and earned First-Team All-America honors. He graduated from Penn State in 1970 with a B.S. in Business Administration.
He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 1970 NFL Draft and went on to play professionally for the Cardinals and Baltimore Colts before beginning the business career that would ultimately make him a leader in the American newspaper industry.
After serving as vice president of consumer lending at a bank in Erie, Pennsylvania, Pittman entered the newspaper business in 1980. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he held progressively senior leadership positions with Times Publishing Company, the Charlotte Observer and Lee Enterprises. At Lee, he served as publisher of the Herald & Review in Decatur, Illinois; vice president of the Central Newspaper Publishing Group; and publisher of the Quad-City Times, with additional responsibility for other Lee operations in the region.
He later joined Schurz Communications, Inc., ultimately serving as senior vice president for publishing, with executive responsibility across the company’s newspaper operations. At a time when few African Americans held the highest executive positions in the newspaper industry, Pittman was among a small number to reach the senior vice president level at a major mainstream newspaper company. During his 33-year newspaper career, he became particularly known for his leadership, mentorship and longstanding advocacy for greater diversity within the industry.
His professional service included leadership and board roles with some of the newspaper industry’s most influential organizations, including The Associated Press, the Newspaper Association of America, the Newspaper Association of America Foundation and the Inland Press Association. He served as president of the Inland Press Association board and the Inland Foundation board and was recognized with the Associated Press Managing Editors’ Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity Leadership.
Pittman has also devoted considerable time to mentoring and inspiring young people and future leaders. His service has included the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, United Way and the advisory board of Penn State’s sports journalism program, among numerous civic and professional organizations. He also earned an M.B.A. from Gannon University.
His connection to Penn State spans generations. Pittman and his son, Tony, became the first father-son combination to play football for Joe Paterno — and both were Academic All-Americans. Remarkably, neither father nor son lost a game as a starter at Penn State. Together they authored “Playing for Paterno: One Coach, Two Eras,” chronicling their experiences and the lessons in leadership, discipline, education and character they carried from Penn State into their professional lives.
Pittman and his wife, Maurese, have three children, Tony, Kira and Mauresa.
Mike Gugliotto, who completed a successful 33-year career in newspaper management in January 2019 as the president and CEO of Pioneer News Group and the 2025 recipient of this award, talked about how Pittman is widely respected for being a strong leader both personally and professionally.
He said: “He’s a person who commands respect without being self-promoting. I think that’s uncommon and refreshing. His college and pro football accomplishments speak to his determination, self-motivation and competitive spirit. Into his career, I always liked the way he carried himself — certainly a strong person who is kind, approachable and genuinely interested in other people.
“He led by example and didn’t need to be the center of attention. I felt he was more of an encourager and motivator verses being overly demanding. He’s got a great smile too, that reflects the way he carries himself and treats others. I believe people followed Charles because they wanted to, not because they had to.
“Charles also supported many youth development programs — he recognized the importance of ‘giving back.’ Charles has had a positive impact on many people throughout his life — that’s a great legacy. He lives the right way, treats people well and sets an enviable example for others to follow.
“For all of these reasons and more, Charles is very deserving of this award.
“It’s also worth nothing that several of you in this room today are in an NFL pick-em league with Charles and many newspaper leaders, past and present, and supporting vendors. Based on his performance in this league, it’s clear his accomplishments on the field haven’t remotely carried over to NFL competition with his colleagues. Nobody’s perfect! Hope you’re smiling now Charles — congratulations!”
Todd Schurz, a senior adviser for Schurz Communications who formerly served as its president and CEO, called Charles “a strategic, gifted and compassionate servant leader who guided our newspaper group for many years.”
He said: “He kept us focused on serving our communities as only a ‘best friend’ would: wanting the best for them but never shying away from unpleasant truths. During a period of tremendous technological and market changes, Charles always reminded us to stay true to first principles as we rapidly adapted. He was also dedicated to helping our staff grow, developed a first-rate leadership team, and always shared the credit. He did the same for the entire newspaper industry as well, and I am delighted that Charles Pittman is receiving the Inland Distinguished Service Award. Congratulations, my friend!”
Tom Slaughter, retired executive director of the Inland Press Association, said: “I was lucky to serve Inland during Charles Pittman’s leadership in 2010 and 2011. He was a proud newspaperman. His quiet directorship benefited both Inland and the Schurz Newspaper Company. He was a gentleman and a pleasure to be around.
“Before his newspaper career he was an all American at Penn State during its unbeaten seasons in 1968-1969. After Penn State he played two seasons in the NFL. But you’d never know that from Charles.
“The newspaper industry is better from the contributions of Charles Pittman.”
Patty Slusher, director of partnerships with America’s Newspapers, said: “The remarkable thing about Charles Pittman is not just who he is, but what other people become because of him. You feel good just standing next to him. You want to be a better person because of him.
“Leader. Kind. Thoughtful. Intelligent. Wise. Strong. Big heart. A quiet man with a powerful presence. A true leader who leads with his heart and improves with his head.
“I had the honor and the privilege to work with Charles during his many years as an Inland Press Association board member and during his presidential term. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have served with Charles during those years and the experience was one that I will always truly cherish and value.”
Kevin Austin, executive vice president of Full Circle Strategic Marketing, said: “I have known Charles for 23 years, and throughout that time, he has been much more than a mentor — he has been a trusted friend who has deeply influenced my professional journey and my life.
“Charles’ servant-leadership philosophy, centered on community, helping others succeed by providing the resources they needed, and encouraging them to reach their full potential, is a true reflection of who he is.
“Charles and Mauresa, you both welcomed me into the Pittman family, many years ago and have treated me with warmth, trust and genuine kindness. I am deeply grateful for your love and support over the years. Publicly, I want to thank you!
“Charles, congratulations on receiving this award for a lifetime commitment to community. I am honored to call you my mentor and, most importantly, my friend, and I believe your greatest legacy is family, the many lives you have touched in all the organizations, the communities you have served, and the people you have inspired, and continue to inspire to become better versions of themselves.”
Mark Roby, a long-time publisher who worked for worked for Lee Enterprises, United Communications Corporation and Schurz Communications, said Charles was “a unique leader in my life, one who combined business acumen, personal qualities/high bar, with life lessons.”
He said, “I can’t say I’ve ever had a co-worker/boss with higher moral values than Charles; his lesson of ‘you’ll always be remembered for your last (great) act’ was as good of a life lesson as anyone could get.”
Roby said: “Charles listened well ... even when he was hearing things he didn’t want to hear. Sure, he’d stop it (the topic) if it was overdone or wrong ... but presenting a new, different way of approaching a business problem, he was all-in. Always. He didn’t have all the answers, yet he WANTED answers to business problems. How many executives do we know who think they have all the answers? Charles wanted answers ... that solved problems.”
He said: “Charles knew a person who lacked character, morals, as quick as anyone I ever knew. Sure, everyone got more than one chance, multiple chances, but if their moral compass was bankrupt each time, he’d recognize it and deal with it vs. ignore it and hope it goes away.”
“Probably most of all,” Roby said, “I consider Charles a good friend who helped me along the way. He truly cares about folks and I wish I could reach his level in that quality of a great person.”
Doug Caldwell, who worked for Pittman from 2002 through 2014, said: “He is the best boss I ever had. Charles was more of a stand up guy rather than a boss. He was honest, to the point and kept the people (employees) at the top of the discussion. He was interested in the person ... me. He asked how my family was and used their names. When visiting my property he was just as congenial to my employees and remembered their names. It stuck with my employees. He was a friend you could count on. It was a privilege to serve under Charles Pittman.”
He added: “I still get his daily ‘treats’ (emails) about life in general. And when I get one I cherish, I share it with my boys!”
Andrew Bruns, executive director of Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, said: “I have had many bosses over the years, but none as kind as Charles Pittman. He connected with each and every person in the building, from the mailroom to the boardroom, Charles treated all of us with the same level of care and respect. We never felt like we had to hit goal for him … we wanted to hit goal for him.”
Kevin Craig, president of PAGE Cooperative and a member of the America’s Newspapers board of directors, said: “We all know that honors such as the Inland Foundation Distinguished Service Award are earned through many years of commitment, leadership and service to others. Charles’ contributions to the Foundation, the industry, his company and his community have clearly made a lasting impression on those who know his work best. The respect of one’s peers is among the highest forms of professional recognition, and this award speaks volumes about both his accomplishments and his character. I’m pleased to join others in congratulating Charles on this well-deserved honor.”
Mayer Maloney Jr., retired president and publisher of The Hoosier Times in Bloomington, Indiana, summed up the feelings of many friends and colleagues, saying: “Working with Charles Pittman not only made me a better manager, but a better person as well. Having Charles as a mentor and friend is a blessing in my life.”
