John Hudnall Obituary

John Hudnall died May 9, 2026, as a result of Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia. Born Nov. 11, 1946, to James and Rosemary Hudnall in Kansas City, MO. In scholastic journalism circles he was known as a “super hero.”

For the vast majority of his 79 years, his daily passion for journalism started at breakfast reading multiple newspapers, analyzing the day’s news and doing a critique of the writing. For nearly half a century, he transferred his passion to the classroom. He began teaching in 1969 at Marshall (MO) high school, then Blue Springs (MO) High School and Westside (NE) High School. In 1990 he became the executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association and lecturer at the University of Kansas. For more than 40 years he was a popular speaker and instructor at national and state conventions and workshops.

His popularity as an educator stemmed, in part, from his ability to make learning fun. 

“John takes what he does seriously, but delivers it all with a sense of humor — dry delicious humor at that. His lack of pretense is refreshing,” wrote Cheryl Pell, then director of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association where John was often a featured speaker. “I’ve learned so much from John, especially about running a press association.”

In his eulogy, his son Scott, captured John’s humor.

“My dad was a great storyteller. He was the type to start laughing midway through a story, long before the punchline, in a truly endearing way. What I’ll always remember was his smile and his laugh. He could light up a small room or a massive auditorium.”

That laugh and sense of humor served him well as he traveled rural Kansas to bring KSPA and JEA resources to outlying schools. 

“It was obvious that what was best for the organization(s) was his constant concern,” wrote Phyllis Wipf, former KSPA president, in her 2009 nomination letter for JEA’s Carl Towley Award.

“He drove to state mini-workshops, organizing, leading and speaking in an attempt to bring resources to all parts of the state.”

Kansas, like the rest of the nation, continues to benefit from Hudnall’s passion for scholastic journalism.

“John may have been the reason you started teaching or the reason you kept teaching,” wrote Barbara Tholen, KSPA executive director. “For our newer advisers, please know that John’s impact on scholastic journalism runs deep, and we continue to benefit every day from this community that he worked to foster.“

Throughout John’s distinguished career, he was recognized for his dedication to students and the craft of journalism. His honors include being awarded the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association; the Gold Key and the James Paschal awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association; Distinguished Service Award from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association; Distinguished Adviser from the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund; Nebraska Journalism Teacher of the Year; Westside Community Schools Teacher of the Year before being named the 2009 JEA Carl Towley recipient.

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. His official obituary is posted here.