1929
Late this past summer, we came across an article about Jack Pillsbury in the Ledger Dispatch and Star of Norfolk-Portsmouth, Va. We are very pleased to have been able to get the accompanying photograph of Jack and would like to quote some of the very fine tribute that was paid to him in this article which was written in Honolulu, Hawaii.
"Walk into this Pacific outpost and mention you are from Norfolk and the chances are the first question you'll be asked will be about the well-being of an individual for whom the Tidewater area will pay tribute Tuesday. He is Cmdr. John Dix Pillsbury, the Fifth Naval District Public Information Officer.
" 'How is Jack Pillsbury?' was the first question this reporter was asked when he climbed from a Military Air Transport Service C 97 at Hickam Field. And the same question was repeated time and time again here from civilians and naval personnel alike. The mere fact that everyone remembers Pillsbury after an absence of four years is almost tribute enough in itself. But the folks who remember when he was PIO for the Fourteenth Naval District here, heap even more accolades upon him. 'I think he did more to weave the Navy and community together than any other PIO I've ever known,' said one person, vehemently proclaiming Pillsbury not only as a fine public information officer, but also as a wonderful individual.
"These plaudits are nothing unusual, if one knows Pillsbury. He is one naval officer in Norfolk who is probably known more widely in the area than most of the admirals. In Navy PIO circles anywhere in the world, the name of Pillsbury is as respected as a pay raise. And from the highest admiral to the lowest seaman, the 49-year-old bespectacled officer is considered strictly 'four oh'. Evidence of the respect by which he is held in the Tidewater area will be demonstrated Tuesday by a testimonial dinner.
"And when they say 'So long' to Jack Pillsbury Tuesday, they will do it, undoubtedly, hoping it won't be 'goodby.' For when future visitors to Norfolk come from Washington they might as well be prepared. There will be a lot of folks around there wanting to know - just as they do here: 'How's Jack Pillsbury?' "
We have since learned that Jack received an inscribed watch from the citizens of the city of Norfolk in recognition of the great service he performed for that city during his four-year tour of duty there. We then wrote Jack to find out where he was going from Norfolk and got the following from him:
"Since that article was written, my orders have been changed from duty in Washington to duty in London where I shall be public information officer for the Commander in Chief, Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, abbreviated as CINCNELM, with headquarters at Grosvenor Square.
"I expect to be in London about two years, and believe me the welcome mat will be out for any '29-er."
We came across another article in the N. Y. Times of Sunday, August 18, 1957, concerning Herb Bissell, Minneapolis-Honey-well Regulator Company. He is vice president in charge of merchandising, sales promotion and advertising. Herb has apparently evolved a plan for the proper care and idea-feeding of the six agencies that helped to tell the stories of its 13,000 different automatic control products. This plan includes bringing all the company agencies together annually for a week-long meeting with the respective divisional advertising managers also in attendance. Herb set up the plan six years ago. The formula is simple and no comments are barred. Any and all advertising activities, present or planned, are put before the gathering for evaluation. Herb contends in the article that one reason the shake-well sessions have been successful is that "We take our agencies into our confidence to a much greater degree than most of the companies and this is one reason why we have not found it necessary to change any agencies since 1950. But we have taken a forthright position and changed some account executives." He is further quoted as saying, "I firmly believe that all of the larger agencies are relatively equipped to do a job as well as another. But there would be a lot less changing of agencies if business executives realized that more can be accomplished by changing the personalities working on your account. To me this is the whole answer to account satisfaction."
Many of you will be interested to know that Gus Wiedenmayer's daughter, Peggy, married Theodore Brill Smith Jr., of Millneck, Long Island, on last May 11 which happened to be her birthday. Ted graduated from Colgate in 1956, having previously graduated from the Choate School in 1952. He has about another year to serve in the army. He is attached to the Dental Clinic at Harboard B Barracks, Orleans, France, and they are living in a small town nearby. Daughter Cary is a sophomore at Vassar this year and Chris is a Junior at the Choate School.
When many of you read in the October issue of the Anglo-Canadian-American Convocation held in Hanover early in September, we are sure that you will wish you had been there. Many '29ers were in attendance including John and Chris Dickey, of course, and the following: Bill, Kay and Billy Andres, Chris and Jane Born, Marv Braverman, Ralph Butler and son, Bob, Princeton '59, Ed Chinlund, Jack and Sue Hubbard and son, John; Mort and Peggy Jaquith, Dan and Jeanne Marx, Bob and Alice Monahan, Dud and Gene Orr, Squeek and Loretta Redding, Shep Stone and Ken Wilson.
Ed Collett reports a business address at 58 Weybossett Street, Providence, R. I., and as we noted in the column last year, he is now general agent for R. I. for the John Hancock Mutual Life Ins. Co.; Al Downing reports a new business address of Air Reduction Company at 181 Pacific Ave., Jersey City, N. J., and a new home address at 1218 Burnet Ave., Union, N. J., and writes, "I have been transferred by Airco' from the West coast to the East coast with headquarters in Jersey City. My son is continuing his college studies in California and our daughter is in the third grade in Union." Bob Harris reports a new home address of Old Windy Bush Road, New Hope, Pa., and writes "Age sneaked up so rapidly on me in the last several years that my wife refused to offer a second testimonial for print. We have all (wife, daughter and dogs) settled down in Bucks County after many moves"; Clint Hoose is now retired from the army and reports a new home address of 5401 Kirkwood Drive, Washington 16, D. C.; John Hunsicker reports a new home address at 8401 St. Martins Lane, Philadelphia 18, Pa.; Red Kimball reports a new business address of 89 E. Main Street and a new home address of 22 Miles Place, both in Meriden, Conn.; Maurie Mandelbaum's address this year will be c/o Dept. of Philosophy, Harvard University, Cambridge 38, Mass., and we have learned that Maurie will be head of the department of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University next year; Fred Martin reports that the "Jr." has been eliminated from his name and that his new addresses are - for business, Fox Valley Milk Feeds, Inc. and 220 Chalmers Street, both in Geneva, Ill.; and Steve Nordblom reports a new business address of 4640 Roosevelt Blvd., Phila., Pa., and a home address of 5033 Newhall Street, Phila. 44, Pa., and writes, "I am an insurance agent with the All-State, Sears and Roebuck Co., and have been with them for the last twelve years."
Secretary, Center Rd., Woodbridge, Conn.
Treasurer, 1728 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh 17, Pa.
Bequest Chairman,.
