Lee Osdiek inducted into Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame

Lawrence native and Lawrence High School graduate, Leland Ostdiek, was formally inducted into the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. Mr. Ostdiek was one of six people receiving the honor that evening.

The Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame recognizes distinguished journalists who have made significant contributions to print, their communities, the state or the nation. The Nebraska Press Association and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications sponsor the Hall of Fame. The induction is not held every year and was started in 1975.

The ceremony was conducted by Dennis DeRossett, director of the Nebraska Press Association and Shari Veil, Dean of the UNL College of Journalism and included remarks by Nebraska Lt. Governor, The Honorable Mike Foley.

The introduction of Mr. Ostdiek included the following:

"Lee Ostdiek grew up in a newspaper office where his parents, Hubert and Louise Ostdiek, were publishers of the Lawrence Locomotive. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1953, and from Teachers College at the University of Nebraska in 1957. With the printing knowledge he learned from his father, Lee worked his way through college at newspapers in McCook, Superior, Lincoln and Falls City.

In 1960, Lee and his wife, Joyce, purchased the Blue Hill Leader where he served as editor for more than 50 years. He mastered a wide range of printing presses and printed the Blue Hill Leader, Lawrence Locomotive and Nelson Gazette, along with commercial printing. As a skilled craftsman of the printing trade, Lee greeted the new age of print technology in the 1960s and 1970s with enthusiasm. His vision and leadership made it possible for newspapers to be printed in central printing plants.

Lee and Joyce are active members of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Blue Hill. They instilled a strong work ethic in their nine children, who all worked for the family paper and printing business before leaving town to attend college and start their careers.

From his first days in Blue Hill, community was always important to Lee. He served on various local committees and governing boards in South Central Nebraska, including the Little Blue Natural Resource District. Lee served as President of the Nebraska Press Advertising Service in 1980 and President of the Nebraska Press Association in 2006."

Also inducted with Mr. Ostdiek were: Tim Anderson and John Bender, both of Lincoln and UNL, Tom Southard (posthumously) of Kimball, Neb., and the couple, Russ and Lori Pankonin of Imperial, Neb.

The Induction ceremony was well attended and included many of Lee's siblings, all nine of his children and spouses and many of his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Lee and Joyce still reside in Blue Hill where they are retired and continue to enjoy the community and friends.