It was a gathering of familiar faces and longtime friends on Saturday, November 3 as the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists (GSLABJ ) recognized two St. Louis news media icons for telling the African-American story through journalism excellence. Its Living Legend award was bestowed this year to St. Louis American photojournalist Wiley Price and KSDK newsman Art Holliday – both St. Louis-area natives.
“These two have been consummate professionals and an inspiration to many in the field of journalism,” said Reginald Riddle-Young, chairman of the GSLABJ celebration.
Carol Daniel, president of GSLABJ, said to the honorees, “We respect you, we admire you, and we hope tonight to show you how valued you are by our profession, to our community and indeed to all the young people and the gray hairs – the old folk who watch you, look at your work, and are inspired by what you do and by who you are, because that shines through in the work that you do.”
As a youngster, Wiley’s instrument of choice was a trombone, until at age 13 his father and namesake (the first black disc jockey on air in St. Louis) bought him a Polaroid Swinger camera from Famous and Barr. Wiley soon discovered that it was through capturing images that he could realistically learn about, document, celebrate and highlight the community he lived in – and all that is St. Louis.
In 2008, Wiley snapped a blind, overhead photo of presidential candidate Barack Obama, as African Methodist Episcopal bishops gathered in St. Louis laid hands on him and prayed that God would order his steps – a journey forward that included eight years serving as our nation’s first African-American president. Wiley’s photo of that moment is now on display as part of the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
In his 45-year career, he has photographed a wide range of Black St. Louis’ triumphs, tragedies and treasures. In his acceptance speech, he explained that it is a privilege to shoot for The American because he is covering the community that he loves and that he would shoot on his own time if it were not his job.
His photos of some of St. Louis’ most notable African Americans also were captured in his 1999 book “Lift Every Voice and Sing: St. Louis African Americans in the Twentieth Century.”
Wiley, who grew up in University City, was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2009, the NAACP counted him among the “100 Most Inspiring St. Louisans.” In 2012, Price was inducted into the Missouri Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a walking encyclopedia of the history of where St. Louis structures once stood and momentous events happened – every dive, haunt, hangout and shanty along the way – and what they meant for the community.
Wiley attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where the allure of jazz still tooted his horn, as it did later at the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL). However, during his last two years at UMSL, Wiley became the student photographer for the college paper, the UMSL Current. He was hired by The American while still in college, and he started freelancing for the Argus and Sentinel newspapers.
Wiley has earned over 80 national, state, regional and local awards for his work, not to mention countless heartwarming accolades from parents who see their child portrayed in positive images in the paper. Wiley has captured Boy Scouts placing flags on the gravesites of veterans, performers in Annie Malone May Day Parade, first responders saving lives, countless classroom learning projects, and candlelight vigils from a community gathered in love and sorrow.
“We try our best to keep the African-American community afloat and energized for the next day,” Wiley said. “I have always tried to do well at my job and bring respect to myself, to the profession and to my paper.”
For many longtime readers, Wiley is The American. He has been with the paper even longer than its publisher. For many individuals and organizations, their event has not been covered by the media unless Wiley Price was there. Reporters from The American who show up to report a story before Wiley arrives learn to expect to be asked, “Where is Wiley?”
Wiley’s fellow GSLABJ Living Legend, TV news anchor, reporter and storyteller Art Holliday, will celebrate 40 years at NBC affiliate KSDK Channel 5 next year. The St. Charles native and University of Missouri Columbia graduate began his career in sports, later switching to news and co-anchoring for 22 years. He has earned numerous awards for his work over the years, including three Emmys and induction into the St. Louis Media Foundation’s Television Hall of Fame in 2009.
“I had the good fortune to find a career that matched my skill set – a job that teaches me something every single day,” Holliday said.
Holliday is also a documentary filmmaker. His first film, “Before They Fall off the Cliff: The Ripple Effect of Schizophrenia,” was showcased at several film festivals. Currently, Holliday is working on the films “Johnnie Be Good” and “Brother Boogie.”
To students and aspiring journalists, Holliday said, “Do the work, nurture your talent, find a mentor and most importantly, ‘carpe diem’ – seize the day – because it goes by fast.”
