James Auer, ’50, was presented with the 2005 George
B. Walter Service to Society Award. Named in honor of Walter, a 1936 graduate
and former faculty member and dean of men at Lawrence, who believed strongly
that
every individual can and should make a positive difference in the world, the
award recognizes alumni who best exemplify the ideals of a liberal education
through socially useful service in their community, the nation, or the world.
Considered by those who knew him best to be a classic Renaissance man for his array of interests — writing, photography, history, and magic among them — Auer spent more than 50 years as a newspaper reporter, features writer, and editor, including the last 32 with the Milwaukee Journal, later the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, primarily as an arts editor.
An enthusiastic supporter of the visual arts and known for his gentle and polite demeanor, he was recognized with a Wisconsin Visual Art Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year in recognition of his contributions “to the wealth of artistic creativity” in the state.
Auer, who served as the first president of the board of directors of Appleton’s Attic Theatre and wrote the play The City of Light for the company, began his journalism career in 1953 as a reporter for the Twin City News-Record in Neenah. He spent 12 years (1960-72) working for the Post-Crescent, including the last seven as Sunday editor. In addition to his print reporting, he wrote and narrated several award-winning documentaries.
Lawrence Today magazine, Fall 2005