Journalist Lane Luckie, an alumnus of Northwestern State University, was recently recognized by the Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts with a Distinguished Communications Professional Award during a luncheon and program on Friday, April 4.

Luckie was honored alongside media strategist Valsin Marmillion and the late famed sportswriter Jerry Byrd.

Created in 2021, the Distinguished Communications Professional award is presented biennially and recognizes individuals with successful careers in and/or significant contributions to the fields of journalism, photojournalism, communications, news editorial, public relations, political strategy, media production, web content production and new media as it emerges, as well as individuals who have made significant contributions to the Department.

The awards are presented by the NSU Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts, supported by the Office of Economic Development and University Advancement.

Luckie anchors “Good Morning East Texas” each weekday on ABC affiliate KLTV in Tyler, Texas. He previously served as evening anchor and executive producer at KTRE-TV in Lufkin, Texas, and as a reporter at KTAL-TV in Shreveport.

A native of Lake Charles and a 2008 graduate of Northwestern State, he is a two-time recipient of a Regional Emmy from the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. His work has also been recognized by the Associated Press and Texas Association of Broadcasters. In 2024, Luckie was awarded a German media prize for his international reporting.

In 2017, he was selected as a RIAS Berlin Commission fellow, participating in a trans-Atlantic exchange program for American and German broadcasters. The following year, he traveled to China to report on trade tensions between the world’s largest economies as a fellow of the East-West Center. He returned to Germany for reporting fellowships in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Luckie also spent a week in Poland reporting on Ukrainian refugees now living in Tyler’s sister city. In 2024, he spent a week in France covering the 80^th anniversary of D-Day.

Luckie is passionate about giving back to his alma mater. He has served terms as president and treasurer of the NSU Alumni Association and volunteers on the advisory council for the NSU Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts. In 2017, he was honored as the university’s ‘Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year.’

Luckie also volunteers with several nonprofit boards, including the ‘Remembering Columbia’ NASA Museum in Hemphill, Texas and NSU’s Beta Omicron Alumni Chapter and Housing Corporation.

Having presented educational programming at dozens of college campuses across the country, Lane has been named Pi Kappa Phi’s national ‘Volunteer of the Year.

The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of KLTV/KTRE-TV or Gray Television. They are solely the opinion of the author. All content © Copyright 2025 Lane Luckie