Rich Clarkson was the 2007 recipient of the William Allen White National Citation, awarded annually by the University of Kansas School of Journalism. Previous winners included Arthur O. Sultzberger Jr., Bob Woodward, George F. Will, Otis Chandler, Walter Cronkite and Gordon Parks, the only other photographer so cited.

Clarkson is a 1956 School of Journalism graduate and nationally known photojournalist.

Clarkson’s professional career has included the positions of director of photography and senior assistant editor of The National Geographic Society, assistant managing editor/graphics of The Denver Post and director of photography of The Topeka (Ks.) Capital-Journal. He has worked regularly over the years as a contract magazine photographer for Sports Illustrated, Time and Life.

Clarkson photographed seven summer and one winter Olympics, organizing all picture coverage for Time at Munich in 1972 and Montreal in 1976 and for Sports Illustrated at Moscow in 1980. He was a consultant to the Los Angeles Organizing Committee in 1984 and was manager of all photography for the Main Olympic Stadium at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

“Rich Clarkson has been a tremendous friend to and supporter of the J-School over the years,” said Ann Brill, Dean of the School of Journalism. “We are so proud of his accomplishments and the national recognition he has received.”

Clarkson founded Rich Clarkson and Associates in Denver in 1987. The company creates and manages unique fine photography projects, including packaging photographic books, creating attendant exhibitions and managing photography and associated publishing projects for clients such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club and the Denver Broncos football team.

He also manages continuing education seminars and workshops for professional photographers and serves as a consultant to media, advertising and photographic trade organizations.