The Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America was founded September 5, 1951, with 15 members
representing such major Toledo-area corporations as Libbey-Owens-Ford Co., Owens-Illinois, DeVilbiss, Toledo Edison and The Toledo Blade, among others.
Founding members of what was then called the Toledo Chapter included Paul W. Kieser (president/national director), Edward C. Ames (vice president), John H. Barker (secretary-treasurer), Edwin D. Dodd (director), George L. Schlosser (director), Marden R. Bishop, Benjamin C. Bowker, Daniel D. Degman, Lev Flourney, Philip S. Gibbs, M.S. "Chris" Hauser, APR, G. Wilfrid Hibbert, Arthur C. Kochendorfer, Harry R. Roberts and Edward B. Talty, APR.
The early years of chapter work were devoted to developing administrative guidelines and duties, in addition to
building membership. Chapter dues were $5 and meetings rotated between The Toledo Club and the Commodore Perry Hotel.
In 1954, Ann Newmyer, public relations director of the Toledo Community Chest, became the first woman member of the
chapter. Marge Conyers, partner at Edelstein and Conyers, was the first woman chapter officer elected to a director post in 1960, by which time membership had doubled to 34.
The complexion of chapter membership has changed over the years, with increased female membership, greater representation of small businesses and non-profit organizations. Membership has moved from possessing strictly a journalism education and experience to a range of education and experience in marketing and public relations.
Members of the chapter exemplify the standard of professional qualification, as almost 30 percent have achieved accreditation in public relations (APR). Two members, Jim Little and Jim Richard, have been elected to the prestigious College of Fellows. The chapter has had four members who have served the society on the national board: Chris Hauser and Reg Jackson served as National Secretary, Don Connell was on the board, and Jim Little served as president of the national PRSA. He has been one of only a few members from Ohio to lead the national organization as
president.
Throughout the years, the chapter has consistently been active in local, regional and national issues. Chapter
projects and programs paralleled timely concerns of American society, including developing an enemy attack survival plan for the area in the 1950s and programs addressing the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
More recently, the chapter developed the Metro Toledo Project in conjunction with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
and the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce. At the turn of the millennium, area practitioners braced for Y2K, mergers, takeovers and myriad other issues precipitated by globalization, including terrorism. In 2002, the chapter
partnered with the American Red Cross in the national "Power of Two" post 9-11 campaign to provide on-call crisis communications assistance.
In 2004, the chapter went online when Jeanette Drake launched its first Web site. The site experienced heavy use and was subsequently re-designed in 2005 by Jim Little’s firm, First Communications Group, which continues to maintain the site for the chapter.
The chapter has been instrumental in organizing and supporting chapters of the Public Relations Student Society of
America. Student chapters were founded in 1960 at The University of Toledo by R. Herbst and Raymond Levy; at Bowling Green State University; in 1993 at Adrian College by Joanna Schultz; and in 2000 at The University of Findlay by Jeanette
Drake, APR, Rebecca Shell, and Jim Little, APR, Fellow PRSA. Educational and practical experience programs are
offered, as well as occasional student scholarships.
The Northwest Ohio Chapter has participated in the National PRSA-PRSSA Relationship Month each year by hosting
each November a special program with students in mind. In 2004, some 72 professionals and students attended. In 2003, some 60 professionals and students from four colleges and universities attended.
In 2005, the chapter added a Student Representative and a PRSSA Liaison position to the Board of Directors to
help build stronger linkages.
Today, local dues for the Northwest Ohio Chapter are $65. The chapter maintains 60-80 members, who, through affiliation
with PRSA, nurture individual professional development and guide their organizations, our community and society toward regarding relationships with all their various publics and one another.
Special thanks to the late Reginald Jackson, APR, James Little, APR, Fellow PRSA, and former member Jerry Mallicoat for participation in preparing this history.
Past Presidents
2006 Julia Orwig, APR
2006 Jeanette L. Drake, Ph.D., APR
2005 Matt D. Schroder
2004 Matt D. Schroder
2003 Kim L. Sidwell
2002 Deborah S. Boyce, APR
2001 Deborah S. Boyce, APR
2000 David A. Kielmeyer
1999 Charles H. Krueger, APR
1998 Patricia Robb, APR
1997 Susan Whiting, APR
1996 Julie R. Pompa, APR
1995 Karen L. Fraker, APR
1994 Anne L. Roman, APR
1992-93 Janet F. Skunda, APR
1991-92 Jane S. Summerville, APR
1990-91 Mark C. Tooman, APR
1989-90 Barbara H. VanVleet
1988-89 Kathleen L. Lewton, APR
1987-88 Robert E. Snell
1986-87 Janet Stanford Bosserman
1985-86 Don M. Decker
1984-85 John Kozlowski
1983-84 Teresa M. Arnold
1982-83 Donald E. Dobbs
1981-82 Michael D. Ryan
1980-81 Melvin D. Barger
1979-80 Sunne M. Miller
1978-79 Jerry J. Arkebauer, APR
1977-78 Richard A. Mueller
1976-77 H. Griffin Watkins, APR
1975-76 Stanley E. Collins, APR
1974 James J. Richard, APR
1973 Donald F. Short
1972 James S. Savage, APR
1971 James A. Little, APR, Fellow PRSA
1970 Frank Thomas, APR
1969 D.C. "Chris" Whittle, APR
1968 James E. Murphy, APR
1967 Evertt Eakin
1966 Edward B. Talty, APR
1965 Al G. Smith, APR
1964 M.S. "Chris" Hauser, APR
1963 Reginald S. Jackson, APR
1962 John R. "Dick" McGeorge
1961 Zeke Cook, APR
1960 George L. Schlosser
1959 Faustin J. Solon, Jr.
1958 Arthur C. Kochendorfer
1957 Marden R. Bishop
1956 Daniel D. Degnan
1955 G. Wilfred Hibbert
1954 Lev Flourney
1953 John H. Barker
1952 Paul W. Kieser (elected president emeritus 1957)
