Advertising

Paul Siemer – 2012

Paul Siemer, an excellent newspaper writer and reporter, carried those traits with him in 1982 when he moved to Fleishman-Hillard

Although he had many clients, Siemer is best known for leading the Anheuser-Busch account team at F-H for more than a dozen years, which helped shape the brewery’s tremendous reputation in 1980s and 1990s.

During his tenure, Siemer oversaw A-B’s media communications for consumer marketing, its sports marketing group, Busch Entertainment, Container Recovery Corporation, and other Anheuser-Busch divisions.

He also was a major contributor to the agency’s national expansion and its entry into Western Europe.

Dave Senay – 2015

Dave Senay joined FleishmanHillard’s St. Louis headquarters staff in 1984 as an account executive.  In the 32 years that followed, he quickly rose through the corporate ranks, serving as a group leader; as general manager of the St. Louis office; as regional president for the Central U.S., for Canada, and for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  He became president and CEO of the firm in July, 2006, the third in its 70-year history, a position he held until he stepped down and became special counsel to the firm in 2016. In 2011 Dave was inducted into the PRNews Hall of Fame. He also served two terms as Chairman of The PR Council, and was named “PR Professional of the Year” in 2014 by PRWeek — the same year it named FleishmanHillard “Global Agency of the Year.”  

Edward C. “Ted” Simmons – 2008

Ted Simmons developed regional, national and international advertising for brands such as Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey; Southern Comfort; Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Bourbon; Busch Beer; Chicken of the Sea Tuna; Purina Dog & Cat Chow; St. Louis Cardinals; Charter Communications; and Heath and Pay Day Candy Bars. His long relationship with client Jack Daniel’s began when he wrote their ad copy in 1967. Under his watch, Jack Daniel’s became the top-selling whiskey in the world. He received the 2006 American Advertising Federation “Silver Medal Award” for outstanding industry contributions. Simmons also appeared in and narrated advertising vignettes for the American Movie Channel.

Hubert Echele – 2015

Hubert J. Echele’s contribution to the advertising industry came in the form of  his behind-the-scenes work at the Advertising Club of St. Louis. A printer by trade, Echele served as Ad Club president for two successive terms and was general chair of the club’s  Gridiron for six terms. He was also elected Chief Haymaker twice in 1933 and again in 1942. In 1966 Hube was elected to the Ad Club Hall of Fame, the same year he received the coveted Silver Medal presented for a lifetime of achievement and service spent in the highest traditions of the advertising business. The first man to be awarded a lifetime membership in the Junior Advertising Club of St. Louis, Hube was awarded an Honorary Life membership in the St. Louis Advertising Club. He was a major force in establishment and fostering better relations with political representatives and in the fight against legislation the ad community deemed unfair and restrictive. 

Robert Hillard – 2007

When Robert Hillard teamed up with Alfred Fleishman in 1946 to form a public relations firm, Hillard’s creative background in writing and creativity helped impress the clients whom Fleishman brought into the firm. He’d been a reporter for the St. Louis Star-Times, but the PR business offered the kind of challenges and rewards he’d been seeking. Serving clients like Union Electric and Anheuser-Busch, the small Fleishman-Hillard firm grew quickly, and when Hillard stepped down as CEO in 1974, the company was on its way to becoming the largest PR firm in the U.S. He retired from the business in 1982.

Ruth Jacobson – 2009

Ruth Jacobson’s career at Fleishman-Hillard spanned 45 years of developing special events and public affairs projects. For her efforts, the company presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. Several years later, Fleishman-Hillard officially recognized her as one of its founders, naming one of its headquarters conference rooms for her. Besides her laundry list of major accomplishments at Fleishman-Hillard, Ruth was honored as the first female member of the prestigious Noonday Club in St. Louis. She was a frequent guest lecturer on public relations and on women’s issues at the area’s universities. Her listing of pro bono community work was extensive, and she was a member of the International Women’s Forum, from whom she received their “Woman Who Makes A Difference” award.