LOS ANGELES (FWAA) – Longtime Arkansas sports writer Orville Henry was named the winner of the 2002 Bert McGrane Award during the FWAA's annual meeting on Thursday.

The Bert McGrane Award, presented every year since 1974, goes to a member who has performed outstanding service to the organization and the writing profession. McGrane was one of organization's founding members.

Henry, 76, is living in Malvern, Ark., and is still writing for the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas and the Donrey Media Group. His career spans nearly six decades. His picture is on the current FWAA Directory from a New Year's Day game at the Cotton Bowl during the 1950s.

Henry was inducted into the Arkansas Hall of Fame last February. He was sports editor from 1943-82 and senior sports editor through 1988 of the defunct Arkansas Gazette. At that time, he joined the Arkansas Democrat. He went to work for the Donrey Media group in March 1996.

Henry is past president of the FWAA and the state of Arkansas chairman for the Heisman Trophy Selection Committee. He wrote one book with Jim Bailey, "The Razorbacks," which was updated and rewritten in the mid-1990s.

Former McGrane winners Bill Lumpkin and Jimmie McDowell were in attendance at the event in Los Angeles. Henry will be presented the award during the College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies next August in South Bend, Ind.

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