Glenn MacDonald
Inducted 1996
editor, Bay City Times
Glenn MacDonald devoted nearly half of his life to improving journalism and the community of Bay City, Michigan. “I found MacDonald, over 13 years under his leadership, to be dedicated to his profession, enthusiastic over the daily challenge, courageous in his coverage of news and always ready to teach as well as motivate his staff to produce the best paper within their abilities,” said Alfred L. Peloquin, Bay City Times editorial staffer (1946-1974).
MacDonald was born in 1901. He graduated from Bay City Eastern High School and latter attended the University of Michigan. In 1934, MacDonald became editor of The Bay City Times. During the next 25 years, the journalist overcame numerous stumbling blocks, including directing the editorial side of The Times through the difficult staff and newsprint shortages of World War II. “Throughout those years he had built a reputation as an editor who worked to cover the entire news spectrum, fair in his editorials and willing to tackle tough investigations,” Peloquin commented.
In 1950, The Times was under MacDonald’s direction when reporter Leonard Jackson won the coveted Heywood Broun Award for a series of stories examining the dire conditions of migrant farm workers. News coverage, under MacDonald, also spearheaded the development of area parks, colleges and airports. MacDonald received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Central University and was recognized as an honorary alumnus at Michigan State University. The Glenn MacDonald scholarship is awarded to a deserving journalism student at the University of Michigan. He died in 1959, leaving an indelible mark on the quality of reporting and writing at The Times.