Don Haney Received Pioneer Award in North Dakota
The veteran broadcaster was honored for his decades of service following his retirement in late 2025.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Awards
Live Poll
Do you believe local news coverage is still vital for your community's safety and well-being?
The North Dakota Broadcasters Association has awarded Don Haney with its Pioneer Award for his significant and lasting contributions to the industry. Haney, who concluded a 52-year career in broadcasting last year, shared the honor with Lee Timmerman.
Why it matters
This award recognizes decades of dedicated regional media service, including critical coverage of major historical events. It ensures the legacies of long-standing broadcasters are preserved in the state's official history.
Don Haney holds a 52-year career spanning back to his early work in the industry. The Pioneer Award, established in 1998, honors recipients by featuring them in the Heritage Center's interactive Hall of Fame kiosk in Bismarck.
The players
Don Haney
He is a veteran broadcaster who recently retired after a 52-year career.
Lee Timmerman
He is a fellow broadcaster who was honored alongside Haney with the Pioneer Award.
North Dakota Broadcasters Association
This organization represents broadcast media professionals and presents the annual Pioneer Award.
KFGO
This is a prominent radio news station where Haney worked for many years.
The details
Haney is well known for joining the KFGO News team in 1996 and playing a pivotal role in the station's Peabody Award-winning coverage of the 1997 Red River flood. Following his retirement in October 2025, the association selected him for this lifetime achievement honor.
Timeline
1996 marked the year Don Haney joined the KFGO News team.
In 1997, Haney covered the Red River flood.
The Pioneer Award was created by the association in 1998.
Don Haney retired from his broadcasting career in October 2025.
Don Haney received the Pioneer Award on September 30, 2026.
Culture Shift
This award marks a formal transition for the state's media landscape as long-tenured, legacy broadcasters leave the industry. It reflects a growing focus on archival preservation through the Hall of Fame kiosk at the Heritage Center.
Residents can view the permanent record of these broadcasting pioneers by visiting the interactive kiosk at the Heritage Center in Bismarck. The award ensures that historical milestones, such as the 1997 flood reporting, remain accessible to the public.
The takeaway
Recognizing long-term career contributions helps maintain institutional knowledge within regional media markets. Readers interested in broadcasting history can explore public archives to understand how local news shapes community memory.
Further reading
For more on industry recognition in the state, visit the Awards section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Y94.
Live Poll
Do you believe local news coverage is still vital for your community's safety and well-being?
