Halls of Fame

 Herbert S. Gardner – 2014

Herbert S. Gardner was a St. Louis businessman and entrepreneur who partnered with Harry Lesan to form Gardner Advertising of St. Louis in the early 1900s. Lesan later left the partnership, and Gardner Advertising ultimately grew into an international agency with offices in St. Louis, New York, Los Angeles and six European cities, and had annual billings of more than $65 million. Clients included Ralston, Purina, Procter & Gamble, General Electric, Bristol-Myers, American Brands, John Deere, A&P, and Anheuser-Busch. On a national level, he was elected president of the American Association of Advertising Agencies.

Dave Garino – 2014

Dave Garino’s career spanned more than 45 years helping his readers understand the world of finance and his clients communicate effectively with financial analysts, investors, media and the communities they served. His unique media background provided a well-rounded view of the investment community. He spent more than 16 years as a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, including 13 years as the manager of the St. Louis bureau, and five years as a securities analyst with A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.  In 1987, Dave joined one of the world’s largest public relations firms—Fleishman-Hillard Inc. where he managed a range of financial communications programs.  His client list included Fortune 500 companies in multiple industries. He developed their strategic investor messages, targeted members of the investment community, wrote and managed production on annual reports and placed stories in key financial media.  His counsel helped client companies improve their image with the investment community, deal with federal disclosure rules and successfully emerge from bankruptcy.  Dave was involved for more than 40 years with the St. Louis Journalism Review and its successor, the  Gateway Journalism Review.  He also served as the first president of the St. Louis Media History Foundation, whose mission is to procure and preserve St. Louis media-related historical materials.

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,”

Michael Roarty – 2007

Serving as vice president of marketing at Anheuser-Busch from 1977-1990, Michael Roarty was highly regarded throughout the nation’s advertising community and was a fixture in St. Louis because of his interest in sports and community involvement. He is also credited with the brewery’s “Know When to Say When” campaign. A-B’s market share went from 22-44% under his guidance, and overall sales more than doubled. Roarty was deeply involved in the brewery’s iconic campaigns, overseeing ad development and positioning of the various beer brands. Michael Roarty retired from Anheuser-Busch in 1994 and was inducted into the AAF Hall of Fame.

Tim Rodgers – 2014

Considered one of the leading advertising strategists in the region, Tim Rodgers had a notable, twenty-year career at DMB&B, after which he co-founded Rodgers Townsend with Tom Townsend in 1996, leading the company into becoming one of the most successful, award-winning agencies in the Midwest. In addition to winning every major international creative award, the agency was recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and was presented the Mayor’s “Spirit of St. Louis Award” for their ongoing commitment to providing pro bono advertising and marketing assistance to worthwhile charitable and community organizations. The agency was also regularly listed among St. Louis’ “Best Places to Work.” cited for its egalitarian culture. In 2006, the company was acquired by Omnicom.