James Armitage, M.D., made history Feb. 4, but it wasn’t easy.
The dean of the UNMC College of Medicine became the first physician to ever be honored with the Omaha Press Club’s most prestigious award — “The Face on the Barroom Floor.” But, to receive this distinction, he had to first endure a vintage 40-minute roasting by five of his UNMC colleagues.
Harold M. Maurer, M.D., UNMC chancellor, served as master of ceremonies, while the roasters were: John Gollan, M.D., professor and chairman, UNMC internal medicine department; Mike Sorrell, M.D., professor, UNMC internal medicine department; Ward Chambers, M.D., executive director, UNMC community and multicultural affairs; and C. R. (Bob) Bell, vice president for business and community development for UNeMed Corp. and former president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.
In becoming the 86th individual to be honored by the Press Club, Dr. Armitage joins an illustrious group of past recipients that includes Gerald Ford, Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne and Warren Buffett.
The event was attended by nearly 80 people and was followed by a dinner.
The five roasters painted a colorful picture of Dr. Armitage, an avid Nebraska football fan who likes snakes and can name the eight members of the weasel family. One divulged how a young Dr. Armitage put a hole in the wall while playing football with his brother, then skillfully hid the hole from his parents by rearranging the furniture. The roast yielded other interesting tidbits about the man, who has published 400 scientific papers in his nearly 30 years as a physician, yet remains loyal to old friends. He doesn’t speak French, one roaster said, but once delivered a lecture in French.
Following the roast, Dr. Armitage was presented with a caricature drawn by Omaha artist Jim Horan. The caricature depicts Dr. Armitage as the “Wizard of Omaha” with a yellow brick road leading to the Lied Transplant Center at UNMC/NHS. Three characters from the “Wizard of Oz” — the lion, scarecrow and tin man — are waiting in line to see him.
Dr. Armitage’s caricature has now been encased on the barroom floor at the Press Club and will remain there until a new “face” is honored in a couple of months. After this, his face will join previous honorees on the club’s walls.
“It could have been worse,” Dr. Armitage said, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’m glad it’s over.”
Photo cutlines — Top: Dr. Armitage with his caricature. Bottom: Dr. Armitage with his UNMC roasters: (standing, left to right) Bob Bell, John Gollan and Harold M. Maurer; (sitting) Ward Chambers and Mike Sorrell.
Individual memberships to Omaha Press Club available for $60 for university employees
The Omaha Press Club is offering individual memberships to University of Nebraska employees at the low annual rate of $60 per person. The low rate is possible thanks to UNMC purchasing a corporate membership in the Press Club.
Located at 16th and Dodge streets on the 22nd floor of the First National Center, the OPC has a restaurant and bar and offers a unique panoramic view of Omaha. For more information on the OPC, visit the Web at http://www.omahapressclub.org/. For membership inquiries, contact Tom O’Connor, public affairs, at 559-4690 or toconnor@unmc.edu. O’Connor is president of the OPC.