Allen H. Center, APR, a founding member of the Public Relations Society of America, passed away on Nov. 13 at his home in San Diego; he was 93. Center began his media career
during World War II when he edited the daily newspaper for the 13th Air Force Fighter Command Headquarters. After the war, he became the publications editor for the Parker Pen
Company, and was later promoted to PR director. Center left Parker Pen to become the PR director for Motorola's Consumer Products Division, where he helped launch the company's
color television product line. He later became vice president of public relations for the Leo Burnett advertising agency in Chicago, but returned to Motorola after two years to
become their corporate vice president of public relations. After retiring from the corporate world, he accepted a position as part-time professor at San Diego State University.
Throughout his life, Center was an active PRSA member and received the society's Gold Anvil Award in 1981. In addition, he was the author of the textbook Public Relations
Practices and co-author (with Scott M. Cutlip) of Effective Public Relations.
Allen H. Center
