PRSA invites you to share your own fond memories of George Hammond with us. Please send your warm recollections to memoriam@prsa.org to have them included here.

Biography

The public relations industry has lost one of its great leaders with the death of George Hammond, APR, Fellow PRSA. Hammond, 96, who served as the 1969 PRSA President and was a member of PRSA's inaugural College of Fellows class in 1989, passed away Friday in Mystic, Conn.

In addition to serving as president, Hammond was the chairman of the 1972 Nominating Committee, which was the first committee to nominate a woman, Betsy A. Plank, APR, Fellow PRSA, to serve as president of the Society. "George Hammond was a man of many distinguished 'firsts' in the profession he loved," said Plank, 1973 PRSA president. "Among them-he was president during the year when the first 13 Chapters of PRSSA were established by PRSA. Throughout the 30 plus years which followed, his strong interest in PRSA never waned and he continued to be a wise, caring mentor to many Society leaders."

Hammond received countless accolades throughout his career. He was the recipient of the prestigious Gold Anvil Award in 1973-the Society's highest individual award, presented to a public relations practitioner and PRSA member whose accomplishments have made a major contribution to the profession. Hammond was also the first recipient of the John W. Hill Award for leadership in the practice of public relations, presented by the PRSA NY Chapter in 1977.

Upon graduation from Columbia University, where he studied on a Pulitzer Scholarship, Hammond began his career as a sportswriter for the New York Sun. He was hired by public relations pioneer Carl Byoir in the 1930s to take photos, which were then distributed to U.S. newspapers, of American tourists visiting Cuba, in an effort to increase American tourism in Cuba. Hammond later became chairman of Carl Byoir & Associates, where he created the first in-house photography and television departments in a public relations agency during the 1940s. He was also the first to have his account team work in the offices of the client, not the agency. "George inspired a tremendous amount of trust in the CEOs of the corporations that he worked for," said Chester A. Burger, APR, Fellow PRSA, friend and colleague of Hammond's for more than 50 years. "The CEOs really listened to him closely; he had them year after year as clients."

Hammond is survived by two daughters, eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

George Hammond was a man of many distinguished "firsts" in the profession he loved. Among them—he was president during the year when the first 13 Chapters of PRSSA were chartered by PRSA and chaired the first committee which nominated a woman to head the Society. Throughout the 30-plus years which followed, his strong interest in PRSA never waned and he continued to be a wise, caring mentor to many Society leaders. Our final face-to-face encounter with George was at the 2000 International Conference in Chicago. During the Past Presidents Millennium Dinner, where he was celebrated as the senior member present, he inspired us with his vivid memories of PRSA in the 60s and 70s and his pride in the Society and public relations.

Betsy Plank, APR, Fellow PRSA
1973 PRSA President