In keeping with the rich history of Women Writing the West, The DOWNING Journalism Award is presented in honor of the late Sybil Downing, a noted journalist and author in Boulder, Colorado, who was also a founding member of Women Writing the West.
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Rewarding Journalism Excellence
The DOWNING Journalism Award, recognizes journalism and articles first published in the year prior to the entry period. The inaugural year of 2018 brought substantial submissions, and WWW looks forward to honoring future recipients of this significant award.
2025 Finalists | Meet 2025 Judge Roy B. Young | Guidelines | Rubric | Past DOWNING Award Winners
I am pleased to announce this year’s Finalists for the DOWNING Journalism Award. There were a record number of entries this year resulting in a tie. As a result we have four Finalists this year! They are (in alphabetical order):
Jane Little Botkin – “Writing An ‘Honest’ Biography” Roundup Magazine
Lynn Downey – “Work, Worry, Interest and Fun: The Life of Mary Shawver, Dude Ranching’s Grande Dame” Roundup Magazine
Carolyn Grattan Eichin – “The Leg Shows Invade the West” The Tombstone Epitaph
Susan J. Tweit – “Designing Women” Pasatiempo/New Mexican
The winner will be announced during the Women Writing the West conference.
Congratulations to All.
— Linda Wommack, The DOWNING Journalism Award Chair
The 2025 DOWNING Journalism Award Finalists
The final placings will be announced on Friday, October 17 during the Virtual Conference
Finalist
Jane Little Botkin
Finalist
Lynn Downey
Finalist
Carolyn Grattan Eichin
Finalist
Susan J. Tweit
Introducing the 2025 DOWNING Journalism Award Judge Roy B. Young
Roy B. Young, of Apache, Oklahoma, has recently retired as editor of the Wild West History Association Journal, concluding an editing career of some 16 years. He is the author of fourteen books, including: Chasing Billy the Kid…, A Wyatt Earp Anthology…, and Cochise County Cowboy War. He is a former high school history teacher, band director and baseball coach.
In keeping with the rich history of Women Writing the West, The DOWNING Journalism Award is presented in honor of the late Sybil Downing, a noted journalist and author in Boulder, Colorado, who was also a founding member of Women Writing the West.
Sybil Smith Downing graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in 1947. She and her husband, Mancort Downing, moved to Boulder in 1967 where she became active in community affairs, including her local school board. Downing took advantage of “mini classes” at the University of Colorado and received her bachelor’s degree in 1976.
Sybil Downing was the great-granddaughter of U.S. Sen. Thomas Patterson, a one-time owner of the Rocky Mountain News. Consequently, she became a prolific writer for the Rocky Mountain News, focusing her articles about women. She also reviewed books for that paper and later for The Denver Post.
For several years Sybil Downing chaired the Colorado Center for the Book and was dedicated to improving literacy, a cause she was devoted to until her death on November 20, 2011.
When Women Writing the West was formed in 1994, Sybil Downing served as its first president. It is therefore fitting that this new journalism award be named in her honor to further the legacy of Women Writing the West.
We believe that through a working relationship with the various editors of the media WWW will be able to gain added exposure, a new venue in networking, and partnerships that will benefit all. For example, the print media will be able to tout their winning article while WWW gains a new audience and prestigious coverage.