APH News & Press
Talking Book Narrator Wins National Award
News Release: Louisville, Kentucky, May 16, 1996
Lou Harpenau, a narrator at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) since 1970, will be recognized with the prestigious Alexander Scourby Award for Nonfiction at a ceremony held at The Club in Madison Square Garden in New York on June 3, 1996. Harpenau was selected for the honor by members of the Talking Book listening audience, which includes 700,000 people across the U.S. who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.
The Scourby Award is presented annually by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), honoring excellence in the recording of materials for visually impaired people. The award puts Harpenau in a "Hall of Fame" for Talking Book Narrators, who devote their talents to converting printed matter into an accessible audio form.
Harpenau realized his fondness for reading aloud while studying for the priesthood at an Indiana monastery. He later studied communications and journalism and worked for WAVE-TV and Radio in Louisville. Now he says he is "very pleased that the members of the listening audience have put this kind of stamp" on the work he does.
APH has been in operation since 1858, and opened its recording studios in 1936 as part of the company's mission to promote independence of blind persons by providing special media, tools, and materials needed for education and life.
Contact Roberta Williams, Public Relations Specialist, for more information. Telephone: 1 -800-223-1839 or (502) 895-2405; e-mail: rwilliams@aph.org