Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

WXXI's Bob Smith honored along with several others by Writers & Books

Writers & Books, the local literary organization, has honored individuals and an organization in the 2017 Big Pencil Awards.

The annual award ceremony, celebrates people and organizations that support, foster and create literature in the Rochester community.

The awards were handed out on Friday night.

They include former longtime WXXI talk show host Bob Smith, who was honored posthumously as “an individual who has had an impact to the Rochester literary community.”

Bob died in March at the age of 63 after a long illness. He was the original host of WXXI’s midday talk show, 1370 Connection, for over 25 years.

Here’s the complete list of awards:

1.     A teacher of young people who has inspired the creation and appreciation of literature. - Lisa Johnson

2.     A teacher of adults who has inspired the creation and appreciation of literature. - Bob Holzworth

3.    An individual who has made lifelong contributions to Rochester’s literary community. - Joe Flaherty

4.     An individual who has made significant contributions to Writers & Books. - Janet Buchanan Smith

5.     A couple who has made significant contributions to Writers & Books. - Tom Hampson & Zena Collier (posthumously)

6.     A writer who has had an impact on Rochester readers. - Jack Garner

7.     An organization that has made significant contributions to the Rochester literary community. - BOA Editions, Ltd.

8.     An individual who has had an impact to the Rochester literary community. - Bob Smith (posthumously)

9.     Distinguished Service to the Board of Directors. - Jennifer Kellogg

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.