For many years, journalists who worked in Albuquerque cherished Albuquerque Press Club awards above many more prestigious prizes. The reason: The APE Awards were the coolest-looking trophies ever. A golden slouch-shouldered gorilla stood upon a wooden base wearing only a too-small fedora with a press card and a sloppily loosened tie, cigarette dangling from his lips.
The statues were fragile. Though spray-painted gold, they were made of plaster and prone to cracking, especially at the ankles. I’m inordinately proud of my surviving APE, as are many other old-time Duke City journalists.
The Albuquerque Press Club always had the greatest clubhouse, too, the historic Whittlesey House in Huning Highlands. Many good times were had there during the heyday of local journalism, when the Journal, the Trib, the TV stations and even radio stations had healthy news staffs.
The Press Club also produced an annual Gridiron show and the APE Sheet.
A wag once noted that the APE statues closely resembled Burt Wittrup, who served as AP bureau chief and Tribune city editor back in the day. Having spent time sitting next to him at the old building at Seventh and Silver, I can attest to the resemblance. Burt sadly passed on to the great newsroom beyond in 2012.
Jack McElroy Books 