Inducted 2016
Photographer, The Detroit Free Press
Julian H. Gonzalez
Julian H. Gonzalez graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelors of Science with a Photojournalism Sequence in 1983. While in school, Gonzalez worked as a staff photographer at the Lawrence Journal World.
After college, in 1983, Gonzalez moved to work for the Lafayette Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Indiana. Then Gonzalez went onto working for the Gannett Rochester Newspapers in Rochester, New York. In 1985, Gonzalez headed to Detroit, Michigan where he briefly worked at the Detroit News before landing a job at the Detroit Free Press. Gonzalez spent 25 years, the remainder of his career, as a sports photojournalist for the Free Press.
At the Free Press, he never took a privilege for granted and always tried to represent the paper in a positive light. Gonzalez credits his drive for intensity and perfectionism in his work is due to his humble upbringing and Marine training.
Over the course of his career, Gonzalez has had the privilege of photographing some of the best Michigan athletes of all time. Among his various opportunities, Gonzalez covered seven Olympics, one Pan-American Games, six NCAA Final Fours, five Stanley Playoffs, and three NBA championships.
Gonzalez’s favorite memory during his career remains to covering the first Tiger’s run at the World Series in 2006. Gonzalez, husband and proud father of two, will continue to root for all of his favorite Detroit teams from the comfort of his woodworking shop.