Daniel Ruth, a 1972 Gannon University alumnus, won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing, along with co-worker Tim Nickens. Ruth was announced winner of the Pulitzer Prize and $10,000 on April 15, 2013 for his and Nicken’s work at the Tampa Bay Times in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Ruth and Nickens collaborated on research pertaining to fluoridation of the water in Pinellas County, Fla. The writers’ editorials date back as far as November 28, 2012, and they continued their research and interviews until March 18, 2012. Through the journalists’ writing and campaigning, the decision to end fluoridation of the water supply for the 700,000 residents in Pinellas County was reversed.

After graduating from Gannon, Ruth, 63, worked for 36 years as a reporter and columnist for theTampa Bay Times, the Chicago Sun-Times and the St. Petersburg Times. He was honored by the Pinellas County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union with the Irene Miller Vigilance in Journalism Award for his editorials.

Ruth follows in another Gannon graduate’s shoes in becoming a Pulitzer Prize winner for journalism. Robert H. Phelps, class of 1939, was Gannon University’s first journalism Pulitzer Prize winner for his writing on the desegregation of schools and busing while employed at The Boston Globe.

The Pulitzer Prize was established in 1917 by Joseph Pulitzer for achievements in journalism, literature and musical composition. Originally funded by a monetary donation left by Pulitzer to Columbia University, 21 awards are given in April every year. Some categories include public service, feature writing, editorial writing, investigative reporting and breaking news photography.

This article was originally published on Apr. 24, 2013 on www.gannon.edu.