TJ Mullinax, the Yakima Herald-Republic's Web producer, was recently named the recipient of the Samuel Mellor Award by the National Press Photographers Association.

Mullinax was honored for his work in restructuring the NPPA's Region 11 Web site, his leadership in organizing the Northwest Video Workshop and his support of the Flying Short Course in Portland, which is the NPPA's annual traveling course in photojournalism.

The citation honors the memory of Mellor, NPPA's second national treasurer from 1948 to 1950 and a photographer for the New York Post until 1954. The award is given to the organization's regional associate director judged most outstanding in the performance of his or her duties.

Mullinax received the award at an NPPA banquet in Las Vegas last weekend.