Gilbert O. Maienknecht
Inducted 1997
founder and chairman, Department of Journalism, CMU
“The sheep sheds” at Central Michigan University were the birthplace of the college’s Department of Journalism. In those converted World War II barracks, the Department of Journalism, Information Services, the student newspaper, the yearbook and the university photo services shared a single manual typewriter. But these humble beginnings spawned one of the state’s leading journalism programs, founded by Gilbert Maienknecht. Raised in the Upper Peninsula, Maienknecht earned a bachelor’s degree at Northern Michigan University, two master’s degrees (in journalism and education) at the University of Iowa and an Ed.D. in education-journalism at Indiana University. After spending three years in the Army and a year as a reporter, Maienknecht became director of publicity at CMU in 1948. In 1959, Maienknecht was named founding chair of the Department of Journalism. While continuing to serve as Director of Information Services, Maienknecht expanded the journalism program to 320 majors, 180 minors and 10 faculty. “Even in times of turmoil, his steady hand guided the department and the faculty,” said John Palen, associate professor of journalism at CMU. “Sometimes he bore the brunt of criticism and controversy, but never lost his even-headedness and even-handedness.” Maienknecht received a Gold Anniversary Award from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association in 1971 and a national award for contributions to education in journalism in 1974. Maienknecht retired in 1982, but his contributions to journalism education have allowed students to find work beyond “the sheep sheds.”