GAINESVILE, FL – Jack Felton, former President & CEO of the Institute for Public Relations, passed away this week at the age of 84.
The funeral will be on Saturday, May 11 at 11 a.m. at Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Below is the resolution passed by the IPR Board of Trustees in 2004, honoring Jack’s achievements and contributions to the organization.
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
At its meeting on November 10, 2004, the Board of Trustees of The Institute for Public Relations unanimously adopted the following resolution to honor John W. Felton as he concludes his decade of dedicated service to The Institute as its President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Felton was born near Roanoke, Virginia, on March 21, 1929. He completed both his undergraduate and Masters degrees at the University of Michigan. He also did pre-legal studies at Rockhurst College and studied business and finance in the MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
During the Korean War, he served as Public Information Officer with the Strategic Air Command. In civilian life, Mr. Felton, universally known as Jack, was promoted to progressively senior public relations posts with U.S. Steel Corporation, Interstate Brands Corp., and then McCormick & Co., long serving as McCormick’s vice president, corporate communications. For the past decade, he has served as President and CEO of The Institute for Public Relations and has taught on the Faculty of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications.
Jack’s leadership in the public relations field is the stuff of legends. His many contributions to PRSA culminated in service as its national President in 1986 and 1987, the only person in that organization’s history to serve two terms. He has received highest honors from PRSA, the Arthur W. Page Society, the State of Maryland, PR News, the Educators Academy and other professional organizations.
Jack’s stewardship of The Institute has transformed this organization, then known as The Institute for Public Relations Research and Education. Together with Pat Jackson, Walt Lindenmann and Katie Paine, he was a founder of The Institute’s prestigious and highly productive Commission on Public Relations Measurement and Evaluation, which has contributed more than 25 scholarly papers to the profession’s body of knowledge. Together with Professor Donald K. Wright and the Page Society, he has helped build the PR Executive Forum to “sold out/waiting list only” status.
With Professor Don Stacks, he has led The Institute’s role in adding to the stature and effectiveness of the annual International PR Research Conference. Under his direction, The Institute has established and maintains one of the world’s most useful websites for public relations practitioners, educators and students – all of it free of charge to any user. The Institute, under his aegis, has distinguished itself by producing pioneering papers, lectures, conferences, awards and competitions to promote academic and professional excellence in public relations.
He had developed professional staff, and both fundraising and annual budget have more than doubled. In short, his tenure has seen The Institute achieve the highest productivity in its nearly half-century of remarkable history.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of The Institute for Public Relations extends to John W. Felton sincere gratitude for service and achievement far beyond duty, unique in scope, weighty in importance and lasting in effect.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this Minute, signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees, be presented to Mr. Felton as a symbol of our wishes for continued success and happiness.
