Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator humor columnist Burton Cole placed first in the annual National Society of Newspaper Columnists competition for humor writing-print.

“It’s a national competition against some big-name writers and publications. I was hoping to sneak in with an honorable mention,” Cole said. “But I miscalculated and won. Wow! Crazy, huh?”

The 2023 NSNC awards were announced last week by the California-based organization, and were for works published in 2022. The NSNC competition covered nine categories in print and online formats.

Cole’s weekly slice-of-life “Burt’s Eye View” column has appeared in the Tribune Chronicle since 1996 and The Vindicator since 2019.

“We’re extremely happy to see Burt receive this award for the great work that he does for us every day,” Ted Snyder, the newspapers’ general manager, said. “Burt’s column is a favorite with our readers, and Burt has developed quite a loyal following among them.”

His winning entry featured the pieces “Hip, hip (ouch! my hip!) hooray for the grandpa bod,” published June 26, 2022; and “Is this real life? Is this (budget) just fantasy?” published Sept. 11, 2022.

It’s the second major award this year for Cole, who is features editor for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator. On May 7, he won Best Feature Writer in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors statewide competition.

In the humor writing contest, second place went to Tracey O’Shaughnessy, Republican-American, Waterbury, Conn.; third, Jerry Zezima, Tribune News Service, Chicago; and honorable mentions to Callum Borchers, The Wall Street Journal, New York; and Rob Perez, Cook County News Herald, Grand Marais, Minn.

Cole said he thanks the local readers who have stuck with him over the last 27 years (plus three more years in the Star-Beacon in Ashtabula, where his column still appears).

He said he has two regrets: “After winning such an honor, I wish my column in today’s newspaper was funnier. I also wish Terry could see this.”

Cole’s wife, Terry — the “star” and “adversary” in many of his columns — passed away June 18.

“It’s been a year of extreme highs and lows, but I’m full of gratitude for God’s blessings,” Cole said.