Willis "Craig" Mahannah To Be Honored As 2024 Master Editor-Publisher

Willis ‘Craig' Mahannah of West Point has been named recipient of the Nebraska Press Association Master Editor-Publisher for 2024.

It is one of the highest honors the Nebraska Press Association gives to recognize career-long outstanding work of one of its members; only 48 others have ever earned the honor since the award was first created in 1972.

Mahannah was born and raised in Butte and is a graduate of Butte High School. 

He graduated from Wayne State College, where his interest in journalism began by working on the college newspaper and in the sports information office, and covering Friday night sports for the local newspaper, the Wayne Herald.

He then worked as a reporter/photographer at the Pender Times from 1980-1986, before taking a job as sports/ag editor for West Point News in the fall of 1986. 

A year and a half later, he was named editor, a job he held until retiring in June 2022. 

Mahannah made a name for himself in the journalism world while guiding the West Point newspaper. Under his guidance, the West Point newspaper was always a contender to win state and national general excellence and sweepstakes awards. The West Point News was named the National Newspaper Association's general excellence winner three times, runner-up once and took third-place honors once. His editorials, columns and photos were also frequent award winners in state and national competitions. 

Mahannah was elected to the Nebraska Press Association Board of Directors in 2018, stepping down due to retirement during his year as vice president in 2022. During his time on the board, he served on the contest committee and legislative committee. 

Even after his retirement from the full-time world of journalism, he helped the Norfolk Daily News with local government meeting coverage and helped the West Point News with county board coverage.

Outside the newspaper office, he served on the West Point Community Foundation Board, West Point Library Board, helped organize and served on the West Point Community Action Network Board, and was involved with other local organizations. In 2022, he received the community service award from the West Point Chamber of Commerce. 

He has also has held various leadership positions at Grace Lutheran Church, including church council, call committee chair and endowment committee chair. He was a youth softball and basketball coach, volunteers with the monthly food pantry distribution and most recently has been involved helping write and edit stories about Cuming County veterans for a project for the city's library.

Willis and his wife, Kathy, have been married for 45 years. They have two daughters, Mari (Mike) Maxwell and Kari (Mike) Heser. His time is now spent attending his two grandsons' activities and having fun with his 2-year-old granddaughter.

Mahannah will be presented the Master Editor-Publisher award on April 26th at a special banquet during the Nebraska Press Association's annual convention in Lincoln.

Mahannah is the son of Betty Mahannah and the late Don Mahannah of O'Neill, formerly of Butte.

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