WGAW taps Verrone for Morgan Cox kudo

Former Writers Guild of America West president Patric Verrone -- best known as the public face of the guild during the writers strike -- has been tapped to receive the WGA West's Morgan Cox Award in recognition of service to the guild. Verrone will be honored at the Writers Guild Awards' West Coast ceremony on Feb. 19 at the Hollywood Palladium. "Patric Verrone has dedicated much of his professional life in service to this guild and to its members," said WGA West president Christopher Keyser. "He is the embodiment of all the qualities that the Morgan Cox Award celebrates and was the unanimous choice of this year's committee. As he has honored us, it is our great pleasure to honor him now." Verrone joined the WGA in 1987 and worked on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "The Simpsons" and "Futurama." He is best known for serving as WGA West president for two terms (2005-09) and leading the WGA through the 100-day writers strike of winter 2007-08. Verrone was first elected to the WGA West board in 1999 and then served two terms as secretary-treasurer in 2005. Keyser defeated Verrone last fall for the presidency. Verrone's been nommed for nine Emmys and won for "Futurama" in 2002 and 2011 and for "Muppets Tonight!" in 1998. He received the WGA West's Animation Writing Award in 2002 for lifetime achievement in animation writing. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com