CLASS OF 1985
Larry Walklin was the Fred and Gladys Seaton Professor of Broadcasting in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
He started in commercial broadcasting at the age of 16 in his hometown of Grand Island at KMMJ. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University in three years while working as a reporter, newscaster, and announcer for the school’s KSDB radio. Walklin went on to earn degrees from Michigan State University (M.A) and the University of Iowa (Ph.D.).
In 1967 Walklin joined the University of Nebraska- Lincoln journalism program helped rebuild it, and taught numerous broadcasting and core classes. Along the way, he was the founding general manager of the university’s KRNU FM in 1970. and later became head of the broadcasting sequence/chair of the Broadcasting Department.
Walklin was active in the Nebraska Broadcasters Association. He served as president/chair of the NBA Board of Directors as well as multiple terms as NBA secretary-treasurer. He also has been chair of the NBA membership committee, NBA Freedom of Information Committee, and NBA Court Liaison Committee. He has been one of the NBA representatives to the Media of Nebraska organization, which joins newspapers and broadcasting on first amendment issues.
In addition to his university responsibilities and his NBA work, Walklin has been chair of the Media Liaison Committee for the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Walklin also has served on the First Amendment Committee of the National Broadcasters Association and on the boards of directors of the Radio-Television News Directors Association, the Radio Television News Directors Foundation, and headed the Radio-Television Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.
Larry Walklin retired from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2017.
