LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Legendary public relations executive Ron Robinson has died at the age of 75.
Robinson affiliated with the agency in 1970 full-time after 11 years’ experience both in journalism and as a public information officer. He worked as a sportswriter for the Arkansas Gazette before earning his degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in 1965. He studied public relations at the Boston University Graduate School of Public Communications.
He served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam in several capacities. Robinson achieved the rank of Captain and earned the Bronze Star in Vietnam and the Air Force Commendation Medal for his support in 1969 of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.
Once an intern at CJRW in the early 1960’s, Robinson helped establish a full-time, full-service public relations division at the agency. He worked for four decades and eventually led the agency as chairman and CEO. He became “of counsel” to the agency in 1996 and was named chairman emeritus in 2009.
“Ron was an iconic figure in the Arkansas marketing and advertising community. The leadership and direction he provided this firm in the 1980s and 1990s helped provide us with a solid foundation that helped CJRW grow into one of the largest agencies in the Southwest. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ron’s family at this most difficult time,” said Darin Gray, CJRW Chairman & CEO.
His professional endeavors have been awarded honors in competitions sponsored by the American and Arkansas Advertising Federation, North American Advertising Network,Public Relations Society of America, the International Association of Business Communicators and the National Public Relations Network.
