John C. Hudnall

John C. Hudnall died May 9, 2026, at Bridge Haven in Lawrence, KS, as a result of Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia. He was born November 11, 1946, in Kansas City, MO, to James and Rosemary Hudnall.

John attended Hogan High School in Kansas City and received both an undergraduate and a master’s degree from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO. He taught journalism and advised student publications at Marshall High School (Marshall, MO), Blue Springs High School (Blue Springs, MO), and Westside High School in Omaha, NE.

In 1990, John and his family moved to Lawrence, where he served as a lecturer in journalism and as the Executive Director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and the Kansas Journalism Institute at the University of Kansas. John was involved in scholastic journalism from his first teaching assignment in 1969. He held important leadership roles in national organizations and promoted the support of journalism education within Nebraska and Kansas, as well as throughout the nation. His enthusiasm touched the lives of many students and advisers, encouraging them to try new avenues and to fight the battles to help change society.

Throughout John’s distinguished career, he was recognized for his dedication to students and the craft of journalism. His honors included being named the AEJMC Educator of the Year and receiving the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association. He was also awarded the prestigious Gold Key from Columbia University and the Carl Towley Award from the Journalism Education Association. John was also honored closer to home as the Nebraska Journalism Teacher of the Year and the Westside Community Schools Teacher of the Year in Omaha, NE.

John is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sally Armstrong Hudnall, and his three sons: Christopher (Laura) of Denver, CO; Andrew of Omaha, NE; and Scott of Kansas City, MO. He is also survived by his grandson, Mateo John Hudnall of Denver. Additional survivors include his brothers: Mike (Karen) of Overland Park, KS; Tom (Barbara) of Bixby, OK; Jim (Roseann) of Kansas City, MO; and his sister, Mary Johnston of Leawood, KS. Also surviving are his sisters-in-law: Marilyn Hughey of Santa Fe, NM; Carolyn Virden (Phil) of Lake City, CO; and Susie Palmer (Stuart) of Jackson, WY, along with many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents; his niece, Michele Hudnall; and his brother-in-law, Joe Hughey.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 18, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence, KS. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 a.m., with Mass following at 11:00 a.m. A private burial will be held at a later date. A reception will follow immediately after the Mass at the Arterra Event Gallery, 2161 Quail Creek Drive, Lawrence, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the University of Central Missouri Evelyn Runyon Scholarship, c/o Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093, or to the Kansas Scholastic Press Association, 200 Stauffer Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045.