July 12, 1972 –
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
Mr. Nelson is a native of Harrison, Arkansas and attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
His early career included editorial work for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and for several California newspapers. In 1927, he joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in St. Louis where he served for 10 years in a variety of public relations and advertising positions.
In 1937, Mr. Nelson accepted a position with Illinois Bell Telephone Company. His World War II military service was in the Army, first in the Signal Corps and later in the War Department Bureau of Public Relations. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of major, one year later becoming vice president-public relations for Illinois Bell.
Mr. Nelson was appointed vice president in charge of urban affairs at Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1967, a year before his retirement. Prior to this appointment, he had been vice president in charge of public relations and advertising since September 1946.
Mr. Nelson was named Advertising Man of the Year by the Chicago Advertising Club in 1967 and Communications Man of the Year by the Junior Association of Commerce in 1968.
