Halls of Fame

Dan Forrestal – 2016

Dan Forrestal began his career in St. Louis as a print journalist for the Globe-Democrat, where he worked for 19 years in sports, features, news and assistant managing editor. He also served as a war correspondent for that newspaper and for CBS Radio. Dan joined Monsanto in 1947 as the assistant public relations director. Twenty seven years later he retired as Director of Corporate Public Relations, having earned the collective respect of his peers and members of the news media. Monsanto presented him with an unprecedented award, naming him the “Conscience of the Company.” He chaired various national public relations societies and in 1974 he received PRSA’a Golden Anvil Award  for lifetime achievement. Dan was co-author of the college text, “Public Relations Handbook,” as well as a number of corporate histories including “Faith, Hope and $5,000,” chronicling the first 75 years of Monsanto. 

Sid Savan – 2016

Sid Savan made a name for himself by spawning memorable ads, starting his career Clayton Davis & Associates in the 1950s. By 1958, he had opened his own agency, and in 1972, it became The Savan Company. Over the years, he partnered with many other ad men, but the Savan creative approach always came through. His success with the Community Federal Savings and Loan account led to business with S&Ls all over the country, and his local radio ads earned him several Marconi Awards. Savan also invested a lot of his time and energy in his teaching at UMSL, grooming the next generation of ad people. He retired in 1988 after working in the local ad business for over 30 years

Jack Thorwegen – 2016

Jack Thorwegen bounced around in art, design and retail before jumping into the field of advertising. After cutting his teeth in agency work he started his own shop, Zipatoni, in 1985, with four employees. The firm quickly became the hottest creative shop in town, and by 2000, Promo Magazine named Zipatoni Agency of the Year, with over 350 employees and offices in 6 cities. Three years later Zipatoni was sold and Jack retired from advertising, for a short time, only to start up another boutique agency in 2013 which he called the Proof Agency. He dedicated some of his spare time to working with the American Cancer Society on fundraising efforts.

Glynn Young – 2009

Glynn Young’s career in St. Louis centered around public relations for Monsanto, Solutia, Shell Oil and, briefly, local education. Over his career he wrote hundreds of speeches for executives and won nine national awards for those efforts. His corporate communications duties also included public relations management, employee and executive communications, for which he won two Silver Anvil Awards from PRSA. Glynn answered the call to help in the reorganization of the St. Louis Public Schools by devoting a year to revamping the internal and external communications programs for the district, and he was given the PRSA College of Fellows Award for his lifetime achievement in the field.

Kathy Dunkin – 2013

The founder/CEO of Standing Partnership served in the PR industry for over 30 years, and she was recognized as one of the “Most Influential Business Women in St. Louis” by the St. Louis Business Journal.  On a less local level, she served as a popular speaker at regional and national conferences, covering communications and entrepreneurial business topics. Before founding Standing Partnership, winner of numerous national awards for its work, in 1991, she held management positions in St. Louis, Chicago and Dallas with multinational public relations firms and Fortune 500 companies.

An active partner in the global Worldcom Public Relations Group of 110 leading firms, Cathy served as the America’s region chair. She also was a national executive committee and board leader for the Council of Public Relations Firms and president of the St. Louis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Robert Stolz – 2013

Bob Stolz’s Washington University Professor and mentor, Frank Cornwell, encouraged Bob to replace him as Advertising Director of Brown Shoe Company in 1946. By age 29, Bob had become President of The Ad Club of St. Louis. At Brown Shoe Company, Bob worked closely with the Leo Burnett Agency and helped produce the national children’s television show, Smilin’ Ed’s Gang, sponsored by Brown Shoe Company’s Buster Brown Brand. Bob resigned as Vice President and Director of Brown Shoe in 1966, founding his own agency, Stolz Advertising Company. Starting with only two accounts, Executive Leasing (Enterprise Rent-A-Car) and Schnucks, the company grew to become the third-largest advertising agency in St. Louis and was a regional agency for McDonald’s. After selling Stolz Advertising Agency to his employees in 1986, Bob founded Indian Paintbrush, Inc., which published St. Louis Seasons Magazine. Bob was a director of the ANA and the 4A’s and was a member of the group that founded Fair St. Louis.