Charles Apple

Let’s take a break before our holiday to wish a happy VizEds birthday to Kenney Marlatt of The Indianapolis Star. Kenney’s celebrating the big three-oh today.

One thing I love about Kenney: He has an even
worse habit than I do about mugging for the
camera. Here he is in Boston last month.
Photo by William Couch.
—

There is no shortage of folks out there in newspaper land who sing the praises of Kenney Marlatt.

For example, there’s his boss at The Indianapolis Star, AME Scott Goldman:

Kenney is one class act.

He’s a pro, in every sense of the word. A great visual journalist, an extremely hard worker and just one hell of a funny guy. He’s made us a better paper from the day he walked in the door, and I just love working with him.

Kenney rocks — plain and simple. Happy birthday, dude!

SND President and Indy Star AME Scott Goldman
hoists one to Kenney in Boston. Photo by Steve Dorsey.
—

There’s Steve Dorsey of The Detroit Free Press:

Kenney is one of the smoothest operators I’ve yet to meet. He’s always thinking one step ahead — whether he’s crafting the SND-Update blog while we’re still sitting in the meeting where we proposed it, or rounding up supplies for the post-party while everyone else is still enjoying the pre-party — he’s the ultimate man with the plan. He’s all business when he needs to be, but then he’s also the man-about-town who knows all the best places and all the coolest people.

Happy birthday, Kenney! Now, do you know what time it is… ?! (Wish it was time to meet you at the Noodle!)

Steve Dorsey and Kenney Marlatt try on hats at
Filene’s Basement last month in Boston. Photo
by Steve Dorsey.
—

There’s globetrotting Tim Ball, formerly of the Merc and other papers. I’m not even sure what continent Tim is on at the moment, yet he sends his regards:

With countless awards from the Hoosier State Press Association, the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors and the Society of Professional Journalists/Indiana Chapter, he is Central Indiana’s most acclaimed front-page designer.

As if that weren’t enough, he’s also one of its most acclaimed drinkers and comedians. No small feat, that.

Tim Ball, Ryan Hildebrandt and Kenney. Photo
by Kristin Synowka.
—

There’s Denise Reagan of The Florida Times-Union:

I have shared some of my strangest, most surreal, most ironic moments with Kenney. He seems to bring that out in most situations. I am always amazed at the depth and breadth of his knowledge about anything. He is a personal technology advice maven, a go-to guy on all things Web and a loyal drinking buddy who can always point you to the place to go.

And there’s Kevin Wendt of The San Jose Mercury News:

Kenney Marlatt: He can make any day drink all day day.

Kenny’s a very talented guy, wonderfully friendly and one of the Society’s more recognizable faces…

—

The Many Faces of Kenney Marlatt:

Credits, Left to right, top to bottom: Mark Friesen,
Steve Dorsey, Mark Friesen, Nina Mehta, Matt
Erickson, Steve Dorsey, Kristin Synowka,
William Couch, Matt Erickson.
—

Kenney is a 2000 graduate of DePauw University (Greencastle, Ind.; Yes, I had to look it up). He toiled for five years at The San Jose Mercury News before joining the Star almost two-and-a-half years ago.

A few samples of Kenney’s work:

See more in Kenney’s NewsPageDesigner portfolio.

By the way, Kenney also writes a blog. Find it here.

Kenney shares a birthday with sports stars Ken Griffey Jr., Troy Aikman, Joe Campanella and Stan Musial and entertainers Marlo Thomas, Goldie Hawn, Harold Ramis and Björk.

In addition, today is World Hello Day and False Confessions Day. Seriously.

Best wishes for a happy 30th birthday, Kenney!

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 at 10:43 am and is filed under Networking, Getting a life, News design, Happy birthday, VizEds Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.