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.