| Show UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION and Commercial Newspapers Ward had once been assistant manager of Stevens and Wallis Inc which was both an adver tising agency andcommercial printing firm He was credited with persuading publishers to make commissionable by the central office some of their bread-and-butter accounts such as banks and utilities thus funding the managerefforts to create new sales His philosophy which most newsmen accepted was by turning over 50 000 in old business you can go out and get 350 000 in additional business Although the concept proved to be practical not all publishers in succeeding years have wholeheartedly endorsed it Some national advertisers have been asked by community papers to place their business directly by-passing the office and eliminating its commission Fortunately they ve been few in number and the remainder of the association has been steadfast in support of the sales pro gram Wardsix-year term ended in April 1955 when he resigned to open his own advertising agency At that time Gordon Owen Jr University of Utah journalism graduate of that year became USPAmanager His tenure would be the longest in the grouphistory for he guided association activities until May 1970 In 1967-68 he had the dis tinction of serving as president of GORDON OWEN JR was 7exY national managers Newspaper Association Managers the only Utahn to hold that position He had also been active in the leadership of American Newspaper Representatives Owen wasgrandson of Walter Webb who had called the founding meeting in Lehi but to this day is puzzled that his grandfather told him nothing about involvement with USPAbeginnings until hebeen the 302 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |
