Each year, the Northwest Arkansas Gridiron invites a civic leader of some stature to become a piñata temporarily, or — as we like to call them — our emcee. They have ranged from politicians who already held office to university faculty who already held tenure to journalists who already turned in their stories before deadline. A bunch of unambitious folks.
They have been funny, clever, insightful and usually self-deprecating people, really devoted to their community and Arkansas, and good at making members of the audience feel welcome. They are also smart; only one of them volunteered to be emcee twice!
In no particular order, our emcees:
- 1978, Harry Marsh, chair of the Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas
- 1979, Varnell Lee, professor of journalism at the University of Arkansas
- 1980, Ernie Deane, former journalism professor and columnist for the Arkansas Gazette
- 1981, Dave Edmark, reporter for the Arkansas Gazette
- 1982, Nate Allen, sports writer for the Arkansas Gazette
- 1983, Steve Smith, professor of communication at the University of Arkansas
- 1984, Larry Miller, director of Fayetteville Open Channel
- 1985, Peggy Treiber, freelance journalist
- 1986, David McWethy, assistant city manager of Fayetteville
- 1987, Hoyt Purvis, professor of journalism and director of the Fulbright Institute of International Relations
- 1988, Mike Gauldin, press secretary for Gov. Bill Clinton
- 1989, Rick Stockdell, director of KUAF Radio
- 1990, Boyce Davis, attorney and publisher of the Lincoln Leader
- 2004, Scott VanLaningham, director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport
- 2005, Dan Ferritor, former chancellor of the University of Arkansas
- 2006, Shirley Borhauer, state representative for House District 98
- 2007, Dick Trammel, retired as executive vice president of Arvest Bank
- 2008, Cindy Nance, dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law
- 2009, Janine Parry, director of the Arkansas Poll and professor of political science
- 2010, Kyle Kellams, news director for KUAF, and Laura Kellams, regional director for the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
- 2011, John Brummett, columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
- 2012, Dave Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas
- 2013, Gerald Jordan, professor of journalism and former president of the Arkansas Alumni Association
- 2014, John Threet, circuit judge of the Arkansas 4th Circuit
- 2015, Dan Ferritor, former and interim chancellor of the University of Arkansas
- 2016, Kent Eikenberry, director of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
- 2017, Greg Hines, mayor of Rogers
- 2018, Steve Clark, president of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and former Arkansas attorney general
- 2019, Bret Schulte, professor of journalism, and Stephanie Schulte, professor of communication
- 2020, no emcee due to Covid precautions
- 2021, Larry Foley, chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media
- 2022, Patsy Watkins, former chair of the School of Journalism and Strategic Media
- 2023, Larry Foley, professor of journalism and documentary filmmaker
- 2024, John C. Davis, director of the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History
- 2025, Molly Rawn, mayor of Fayetteville