AD / PR HOF

Marie Casey – 2014

Marie Casey left a full-time job as editor of St. Louis Construction News and Review in 1983 to start her own public relations agency, operating out of her house in the beginning. Throughout her career, she served major clients in construction-related industries, trade groups, and educational institutions whose leaders sought her counsel long before “going public” with a project or a problem. Casey also established a local niche in developing corporate histories and “leadership legacies” for her clients, and she did extensive volunteer work with her alma mater, the University of Missouri – St. Louis’ Fine Arts/Communications school, the St. Louis Mercantile Library and Missouri History Museum. Casey was honored in 2009 with the Distinguished Service Award for Campus-Wide Service by the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), and recognized in 2004 as an Influential Business Woman by the St. Louis Business Journal.  She received UMSL’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1991. .

Tom Townsend – 2014

Tom Townsend was co-founder of the Rodgers-Townsend agency. With Tim Rodgers, they grew the agency into an advertising powerhouse representing many sought-after regional and national clients. Townsend, was considered the creative force behind the agency’s top campaigns. After retiring from the advertising business, he founded a nonprofit organization, Pianos for People, that gives pianos to underprivileged kids, and a music and art festival in Savannah, GA, the “A-Town Get Down,”

Charles “Chuck” Fruit – 2009

Charles “Chuck” Fruit was known in the national ad community for his work with two of the country’s top beverage companies, Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola. He’s also remembered for being one of the first ad execs in the country to recognize the potential of ESPN by signing a $10 million ad deal with the fledgling net giving A-B beer exclusivity. He worked in the brewery’s marketing department for 15 years Fruit is credited being the first to see the value in logo placement in televised sporting events, putting a Budweiser logo on the posts of a boxing ring, and he is credited with playing a major role in the rollout of Bud Light, making it the nation’s best-selling beer. In his work with Coke, Fruit oversaw the company’s Olympics and World Cup promotions.

Susan Gallagher – 2009

Susan Gallagher became the voice and face of AmerenUE, after she joined the company as manager of corporate communications in 1991. Prior to that, she had worked as a journalist and was involved in investor and media relations for financial institutions in other cities. When she arrived in St. Louis in 1989, she worked in Fleishman-Hillard’s investor and media relations unit. There her media relations efforts helped win the 1992 Silver Anvil from PRSA. At Ameren, she eventually became the company’s director of corporate communications, overseeing advertising, internal and external communications, as well as media relations. Susan also did community volunteer work. She was named Tutor of the Year with the YMCA’s literary organization and was a board member of EarthWays House and Grace Hill Neighborhood Services.

John Graham – 2007

John Graham joined Fleishman-Hillard in 1966 and rose through the ranks to become the agency’s CEO. He spent 30 years at the helm before restructuring the senior management team and stepping down as CEO in 2006. During his tenure, Fleishman-Hillard became the largest PR firm in the nation, based on annual revenues, with more than 80 offices around the world. He was named PR Professional of the Year by PRWeek in 2001 and received PRSA’s Gold Anvil for his contributions to the industry the following year. Graham was founder and served as chairman of the Council of Public Relations Firms.

Marty Hendin – 2008

Hendin joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 as assistant public relations director. In 1995, he was named vice president of community relations in which he became responsible for representing the Cardinals at various events in the St. Louis-area and on many civic and charitable boards and committees. He also was responsible for special events such as opening day, anniversary activities and coordinating on-field, pre-game activities. A native St. Louisan, Marty was a graduate of University City High School and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He was selected Ad Man of the Year in 1987 by the Advertising Club of Greater St. Louis and was named Good Guy by the St. Louis Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association in 2006.