DR. LUTHER W. ‘SONNY’ SANDERS

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Dr. Luther W. “Sonny” Sanders, 79, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, in Columbia, Mo. He was born Sept. 27, 1937, to Royal Sanders and Lucille White Sanders Herbert and was raised by his grandparents, Luther and Lula White in Caruthersville, Mo. He was a retired newspaperman and journalism professor. His teaching career began in 1961 at the University of Memphis, where he was an instructor in journalism before joining the University of Missouri School of Journalism as an assistant professor in 1970. He then served the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for 26 years beginning in 1974 as associate professor and professor before retiring as professor emeritus. His teaching specialties included editing, reporting, writing, radio-tv and typography.

Dr. Sanders earned a doctoral degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; a master’s degree in radio and television journalism from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis.

Dr. Sanders brought practical experience to the classroom. His professional experience began in high school as a part-time news writer and newscaster for radio station KCRV in Caruthersville, Mo., and later as the Caruthersville correspondent for six Missouri newspapers. As an accomplished newsman, his experience included copy editor for the Memphis Press Scimitar; sports writer, bureau chief and correspondent for the Memphis Commercial Appeal and copy editor for the Louisville Times.

His research concentration was on content analysis comparing media coverage of major events and on the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. His thesis, A Content Analysis of President John F. Kennedy’s First Six Press Conferences, was accepted for inclusion in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library because it is one of the few pieces of research without the “halo” effect as it was done early in Kennedy’s presidency.

Dr. Sanders served his profession in many ways. He was on the editorial board of the Newspaper Research Journal, and a member and office holder in numerous professional and honorary organizations including Sigma Delta Chi Society of Professional Journalists; Kappa Tau Alpha, national honor society in journalism and mass communications; Pi Delta Epsilon, national honorary journalism fraternity; Association for Education in Journalism; International Association of Business Communicators; and National Federation of Press Women and Arkansas Press Women.

Through the years, he was the recipient of numerous awards. In 2000, he was named Journalism Educator of the Year by the Arkansas Press Association. Kappa Tau Alpha honored him by in 1995 by naming him recipient of the Taft Outstanding Adviser Award, a national award presented annually for exemplary service.

Survivors of Dr. Sanders include children, Luther W. “Sonny” Sanders Jr., (Diane) and Susan Sanders Merrell (Geoffrey); grandchildren, Royal and Josie Sanders and Courtney Merrell; half-brothers, Gary and Johnny Sanders and Joe Herbert Jr., and half-sisters, Rebecca Young and Mary Lou Herbert Sanders.

Graveside services for Dr. Sanders will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Little Prairie Cemetery near Caruthersville. A social gathering will take place from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Arkansas Press Association, 411 S. Victory Street, Little Rock, AR 72201. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or to the no-kill animal shelter of your choice. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.parkermillard.com .

Parker-Millard Funeral Service and Crematory of Columbia, Mo., was in charge of arrangements.