November 18, 1968 –
Palmer House Hilton Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Pendray is an authority on industrial public relations, educational programs and management. He is also one of the country’s foremost proponents of space flight and rocket power.
Born in Nebraska, he graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1924 and the year following received an M.A. from Columbia University.
In 1936, he joined Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company (now Westinghouse Electric Corporation) as Assistant to the President, assigned to the task of developing a complete public relations program and staff for the company. During this period, he launched both the Westinghouse Engineer and News and helped develop and administer the annual Westinghouse Science Talent Search. One of Dr. Pendray’s projects which brought wide attention to Westinghouse was the original Time Capsule at the New York World’s Fair of 1939. He was responsible for its entire development, including coining the name “Time Capsule.” In 1945, he opened his own public relations firm, Pendray & Company. Westinghouse became his first client.
He became interested in rockets and space flight in the late 1920s and with Mrs. Pendray helped found the American Rocket Society which merged in 1963 with the Institute of the Aerospace Sciences to form the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In 1964, he was elected a member of the International Academy of Astronautics in recognition of his contributions to the development of space flight.
Dr. Pendray was vice president of the National Association of Public Relations Counsel which combined in 1948 with the American Council on Public Relations to form the Public Relations Society of America.
PDF: Time’s Arrow and the Fifth Estate
Dr. G. Edward Pendray
Senior Partner, Pendray & Company
November 18, 1968
