November 13, 1977
Town & Country Hotel
San Diego, California
Mr. Center’s public relations experience began during World War II when he was called upon to establish a public relations section for the 13th Air Force Fighter Command at Guadalcanal. Following the war, he organized the public relations department for The Parker Pen Company and headed it for six years.
He joined Motorola Inc. in 1952 to form a public relations department and served as director of public relations from 1952 to 1959, when he moved to the Leo Burnett Company as vice president of public relations. He returned to Motorola as vice president of public relations in 1961 and remained until he elected “early” retirement at 60 in 1973 to write, teach and consult.
Since 1973, Mr. Center has served for two consecutive terms as president of the Foundation for Public Relations Research and Education and joined the faculty of the San Diego State University Department of Journalism as professor of public relations.
Well known as a writer on the subject of public relations, Mr. Center is co-author of “Effective Public Relations,” and author of “Public Relations Ideas in Action” and “Public Relations Practices: Case Studies.
Mr. Center is a graduate of Knox College and attended the Columbia University School of Journalism. He is a former lecturer in public relations at Northwestern University.
Recipient of the Distinguished Service Award in 1970 from the Chicago Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, Mr. Center also received the President’s Citation for Meritorious Service from PRSA National in 1974. He is listed in “Who’s Who in America,” “The Writers Directory,” the “Dictionary of International Biographies” and “Creative and Successful Personalities of the World.”
Mr. and Mrs. Center live in San Diego, California.
