The founders of the Bozell & Jacobs advertising and public relations agency, along with the founders of the Omaha Ad Club and the first woman Ad Club member and president are the inaugural honorees in the Legends of Advertising Hall of Fame.
Leo Bozell, Morris Jacobs, Charles Black, Bob Manly, Jack Weaver and Helen Moeller will be inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously at the organization's Centennial GALA celebration Nov. 18 at the Hilton Hotel. The Hall honors men and women who have best served the cause of advertising in Omaha.
The Story Behind Bozell & Jacobs
Former newspapermen Leo Bozell, an editor of the Omaha Daily News and Morris Jacobs, a police reporter for the Omaha Bee-News, first moonlighted to create advertising for the Nebraska Power Co. before leaving their newspaper careers to found of one of the country's most successful advertising agencies, Bozell & Jacobs. Their storied careers include the creation of advertising and public relations campaigns for Boys Town, Mutual of Omaha and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Manley, Weaver and Black were chosen for their role in the famous "rainstorm brainstorm" of 1906 that signaled the unofficial beginning of the Omaha Ad Club, today known as the Omaha Federation of Advertising.
According to Omaha advertising history, Bob Manley of J.L. Brandeis & Sons, Jack Weaver from the Bee Publishing Company and Charles Black, owner of Black the Hatter, had the idea to start an ad club during a thunderstorm that stranded them under an awning of the old Boston (Brandeis) Store.
Each man served as president of the Ad Club and in various capacities on the boards and executive committees. Black was the first president of the Ad Club and served two terms from 1906-1908. He was active in the community and served on the Ak-Sar-Ben Board of Governors and was the 19th King of Ak-Sar-Ben. Manley was president in 1909. Weaver began his newspaper career in Peoria and Quincy, Illinois, until 1887 when he came to Omaha and worked with the Herald (now the Omaha World-Herald). He worked for the Omaha Bee until he resigned that position in 1911 to become secretary of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben.
Moeller Created 'Meet the Pros' Event
Moeller was the first woman to join the Omaha Ad Club in 1948 and the first female president of the club in 1962. She was vice president and account executive for Allen & Reynolds, the early agency predecessor to SKAR. She retired from the firm in 1981 after 36 years in the industry. The Omaha Federation of Advertising's "Meet the Pros" event was her brainchild. She also served as co-chairperson for the Ninth District Ad Federation Convention in Omaha. At the time of her presidency there were only six other women in the Ad Club. She received national attention and recognition from her peers when she appeared before the FCC to provide testimony for the network trials of the mid 60's.
The Legends of Advertising Hall of Fame inductees were announced by former advertising executive Ron Kaplan, who chaired the committee that selected the inductees from nominations made by members of the advertising and public relations industry and general public.
"The history of professional advertising in the greater Omaha area certainly deserves recognition," Kaplan said. "We set the bar high with this first class of LEGENDS because we want to recognize and honor those in our ad community who have contributed so much to our profession. These inductees and those we will add each year have proven time and time again that great advertising doesn't have to originate in New York or Los Angeles."
Gala Event is Nov. 18 at 8 p.m.The Nov. 18 event will also feature a video tribute to "100 Years. 100 Moments," and announce the Top 10 Advertising moments in the city's history, as selected by an industry vote. The gala will be hosted by Clear Channel's Jim Kalal, with music by Pam & the Pearls. It is open to the public. Tickets are $100 per person, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the OFA's Scholarship Program and Public Service Campaign. For ticket information call Teri Hamburger at 402-56-6625 or visit www.ofa100.com.
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