UA’s C&IS to Induct Five Into Hall of Fame

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences will hold its annual Communication Hall of Fame Thursday, Oct. 1, in the North Zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The 2015 inductees are Camille Elebash, Wayne Gillis, Everett Holle, Ed Mullins and Annabel Stephens.

Camille Elebash was employed by The Tuscaloosa News as a reporter, feature writer and women’s page editor before moving to New York to write for The New York Times. Upon her return to Tuscaloosa, she worked as the editor of the Alabama Alumni Magazine.

In 1957, she and her husband founded The Graphic, a weekly newspaper in Tuscaloosa that was a pioneer in offset printing for newspapers. Elebash was instrumental in the organization of the department of advertising and public relations during its first year of existence.

Wayne Gillis is an industry leader in advertising and public relations. His creative expertise has been the driving force for UA’s national television campaigns during the past two UA presidential administrations.

After graduating from UA, he founded Gillis Advertising and Public Relations with five employees. The company has since grown its business to more than $100 million in billings and employs nearly 100 staff members.

Everett Holle earned his Bachelor of Arts in communication from UA in 1950. After his time at UA, Holle spent 41 years in the Birmingham television industry.

Throughout his tenure, he was an announcer, producer, director, newscaster, interviewer, director of public affairs, program director and an assistant general manager at NBC-13, WVTM-TV.  Holle is a civic leader and has several college awards named in his honor.

Ed Mullins served as dean of UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences from 1983 to 1996. During his tenure as dean, the College experienced unprecedented growth and improvement in faculty, facilities, students and equipment, receiving recognition as one of the nation’s top 20 colleges of communication.

He also established the College’s Board of Visitors, alumni organization and the nationally recognized Multicultural Journalism Program.

Annabel Stephens’ impact on libraries throughout the Southeast attests to her devotion and leadership in the field of library and information studies. After joining UA’s School of Library and Information Studies, Stephens was instrumental in the development of off-campus programs that have influenced the school’s great success.

Her devotion to teaching generations of librarians has made Stephens a prominent leader in the field.

The UA College of Communication and Information Sciences is among the largest and most prestigious communication colleges in the nation. The College consistently is ranked among the top 10 in number of doctoral degrees awarded and in many of its research programs.