Media Hall of Fame - Tom Caylor
Tom Caylor, 1980, Journalism (Broadcast & Cinematic Arts minor): Caylor, a native of Owosso, Michigan, and a 1980 Journalism graduate, was selected as one of six honorees who have distinguished themselves in their professions. He spent 40 years in newspaper reporting, public relations and fundraising for nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including 26 years at nationally renowned Delta College in Michigan before retiring in 2018.
Caylor’s father attended GM Institute and gave him good advice during high school, telling him to work with his head, not his hands.
“CMU opened the doors to writing as the basis for my career. It laid the foundation and prepared me to handle anything. I took classes in public relations, editing and writing, and used all those skills throughout my career,” he said.
Caylor found his way to CMU through a friend already studying there and invited him up to tour the campus. Having completed his first two years at Jackson Community College, Caylor was excited to make the move to Saxe Hall as a transferring junior.
“The campus seemed the right size for me,” he said. “I went from an environment of living at home to the dorm experience, which was mind blowing and eye opening for me. Dorm life introduces students to a whole different world and life. I just took it all in.”
After two years of comprehensive studies, Caylor approached graduation with excitement.
“I remember taking my final exam in Anspach Hall and thinking to myself, ‘I’m free.’ I already had a job lined up as a newspaper reporter for L’Anse Sentinel in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula,” he said. “I’m so grateful to Professor Sue Nichols for helping me learn how to put together a newspaper. Having a journalism degree from CMU is like gold.”
After 15 years working as a newspaper reporter and public relations practitioner, Caylor joined Delta College, where he spent 26 years leading communications projects and its public broadcasting (television and radio) operations. He served as the president’s chief speechwriter, wrote grants, and coordinated alumni relations efforts to advance the college’s financial and alumni support base.
For his outstanding contributions to the college, Caylor was granted the Willie E. Thompson Outstanding Service Award, the highest honor awarded to an administrative/professional staff member. He credits his CMU professors and mentors for taking great interest in his academic success and future career, beginning with Dr. Gilbert Maienknecht, who founded the CMU Department of Journalism in 1959 and became the first Journalism Hall of Fame inductee in 2002.
“Many of my professors took an interest in me, starting with Gil Maienknecht. He was such a competent professor and inspired me with his gentle demeanor,” said Caylor. “Dr. Guy Meiss was another inspiring professor of mine, and we have stayed in touch over the years. I also studied media law with Dr. Mike Petrick – one of the toughest classes I had.”
Caylor has regularly gone back to his high school to tell students about CMU and encourage their attendance, describing it as “one of the finest places to study journalism” and emphasizing that “every field needs good writers.”
Since retiring, Caylor has remained active in the Public Relations Society of America and Association of Fundraising Professionals, and has also participated in leadership programs through chambers of commerce in Bay City, Michigan and Saginaw, Michigan. His community volunteerism included the Temple Theatre, Bay City Players, Great Lakes Bay Pride, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Saginaw Valley State University, and the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. One of his favorite volunteer roles in playing Santa Claus for local Christmas parties and charities.
