L. Alan Cruikshank, publisher of The Times, will be recognized in September with a national award for his decades-long involvement with community journalism and commitment to volunteerism.

The National Newspaper Association announced that Cruikshank is the recipient of the distinguished James O. Amos Award.

Recognized as the highest and most dignified tributes in community journalism, the NNA’s Amos and McKinney Awards are presented to a working or retired newspaperman and woman who have provided distinguished service and leadership to the community press and their community.

“This is quite an honor and something I totally did not expect,” Cruikshank said. “I thank everyone for their support and encouragement.”

For more on his thoughts, see the publisher’s column on Page 1B.

The Amos Award was established in 1938 in honor of General James O. Amos, a pioneer Ohio journalist and member of the National Editorial Association – today known as the National Newspaper Association.

The NNA is conducting its annual convention this fall at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix.

Cruikshank will receive the award at a Sept. 14 business luncheon.

He will be the first winner of the Amos Award from Arizona.

Established in 1885, the NNA is the voice of America’s community newspapers and the largest newspaper association in the country.

Cruikshank is a former board member with the NNA – along with the Arizona Newspapers Association – and has worked on various committees and projects for NNA.

At the conclusion of his board service, the NNA established the Cruikshank Scholars program at the University of Missouri School of Journalism to honor his commitment to community journalism.

He launched The Fountain Hills Times in 1974 and devoted decades to a broad range of community volunteerism, receiving numerous honors and awards.

The River of Time Museum is named in his honor and he was installed in the Arizona Newspapers Hall of Fame in 2003.