Presented by Betsy Plank (for Patrick Johnson)

Presentation of Distinguished Service Award

The Page Society's Distinguished Service Award was established last year to recognize a person whose contributions over the years have strengthened the role of public relations. Betsy Ann Plank, the Award's first recipient, made the posthumous presentation to Patrick Jackson who died March 22, 2001. Following are her remarks at the presentation.

A year ago this April, a family of kin and heart gathered at the Friends Meeting House in Epping, New Hampshire, to celebrate the life of Patrick John Jackson. That sunny spring day, our numbers spilled over from the little frame building to a tent outside. Among us were, of course, Pat's wife and colleague, Stacey Smith Jackson, and their two young children, Alexandra and Jeremy; other family members; colleagues from his firms of Jackson Jackson & Wagner and Dudley Research; New Hampshire neighbors; and Page Society members such as Ann Barkelew, John Budd and Professor Maria Russell.

To honor this longtime leader and past president of the Public Relations Society of America, almost its entire board was there. So was its executive director, Catherine Bolton.

That was my first experience with a Quaker memorial service; beautiful in its simplicity and eloquent in the testimony of those moved to stand up and share their gratitude fore the remarkable, spirited man who had died so suddenly the month before.

Like many of us, his formal education came too soon for public relations, but he was grounded in journalism and - most important - in the arts and sciences.

Like many of us, Pat's journey took him from newspaper work to publicity and promotion, then to public relations at the cutting edge of the practice. And...

Like many of us, Pat never wrote a book. Between constant travel and counseling, crises and challenges, there simply wasn't here-and-now time to do that.

In sum, this community of professionals here has much in common with him and can identify with his career directions.

So what made him so extraordinary? So deserving of the Arthur W. Page Distinguished Service Award being presented tonight?

The folder we recently received reads: "This very special award is given...to those who have spent much of their career in service to others in the profession, with the goal of strengthening the role of public relations in our society."

Surely that defines Pat Jackson's living body of work. He was an articulate, tireless champion for our education, for our students, and for public relations as a behavioral science - one primarily concerned with building relationships.

Putting aside the seductions of the computer, the Internet and Web sites, he insisted that at the core or our practice, we must deal face-to-face with the impudence of human nature and its complex motivations. He preached research and measurement long before it was popular to do so. He believed in the problem-solving power of public relations as a means to reach consensus and to effect healthy change.

Outspoken, convincing, and always in transit, Pat Jackson never met a challenge or a problem he didn't embrace with enthusiasm. He as indeed our own Happy Warrior! And for me personally, he was a Conspirator-or Choice in many good causes.

After his death, there was an amazing avalanche of testimony from the practice, from educators, from clients, from students. His mentoring fingerprints are on the careers of so many. Witness Alan Kelly, a new Arthur W. Page member, who remembers Pat's mentoring when Alan was president of the Public Relations Student Society of America in 1980.

Much better that I, several of this Society's members wrote of his contributions and influence. So with apologies and any omissions, let me quote just a few.

Ann Barkelew, you wrote: "He kept us all ahead of the curve ...made us stretch and grow...and with that always-familiar ducking his head a little, touching his beard, looking up with a twinkle in his eye, he involved us in arriving at the right answer to an issue. He was, without a doubt, the best of the best."

Ron Rhody echoed that by saying, "The thing I love about the man was that he made me think."

Maria Russell wrote: "Pat was totally selfless. When an invitation came to speak, he always found a way to say 'Yes!' no matter the size nor the prestige of the group...as long as there were people who would listen, talk, debate, question and grow."

Dr. Don Wright asserted: "If ever there was a link between the academy and the practice, clearly it was Pat Jackson. He was one of our true legends not only because of what he contributed to the practice but also because of his many contributions through professional organizations to making our field better that it was yesterday."

And for all of us, Jim Murphy wrote: "His passion and enthusiasm for the profession he practiced for more than half a century was legendary and made him one of the best known and most admired practitioners in the business."

Earlier I said that Pat Jackson never wrote a book. That' not exactly true. There are his pr reporter commentaries, waiting to become a book. He also co-edited the recent editions of a casebook with our Hall of Fame member, Allen Center. Two weeks ago over lunch in San Diego, Allen, Dr. Glen Broom and I reminisced about Pat. Allen recalled when he first approached Pat about becoming the co-editor of the book, he said he'd "think about it." Later, after Kansas City conference, they met in the airport coffee shop. Pat was heading east, Allen west. Pat said "yes" to the earlier proposition. According to Allen, "We never exchanged one paper of agreement. Since we both were hurrying for planes, I don't think we even shook hands on it. We just took one another's word."

Speaking of books, there's a handsome one called The Granite State, recounting the history and contemporary progress of New Hampshire. Its concluding section is titled, "Chronicles of Leadership", and there's a full; page devoted to the civic contribution of Pat and his firm, citing work with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, and the Statewide Program of Action to Conserve the State's Environment.

Tonight's award isn't the only one ever presented to Patrick Jackson, of course, though we think of it as his capstone honor. There's PRSA's Gold Anvil and its Educators Academy Award, honors from several universities, and many others. Among them the Lincoln Award for Outstanding Contributions to the New England Community.

All in the tradition of Arthur W. Page's personal record of service.

Just last year PRSA established the Patrick Jackson Award for Outstanding Service to the society. And now there's out addition to that list.

Anyone who ever received a letter from Pat knows that never bothered with a formal salutation. He always began with a declaratory phrase, such as....

"We have a problem, Betsy..." Or..."You're doing a great job, Jack..." Or..."That issue we discussed has grown legs, Bill..."

His second paragraph picked up where the first left off and explained why - in never more than two pages - often just one.

So I thought I'd conclude with an out-loud letter to him in his own brief style - and it goes like this:

"Tonight I'm privileged, Pat...

"To be the voice of the Arthur W. Page Society in saluting you with its Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime of contributions in behalf of the public relations profession. It's a tribute to your vision, caring and genius in inspiring professionals and students, and your championship for research, the practice of public relations, and enduring service to the larger community.

"Surely it's appropriate, Pat, that the crystal shaft of this award is climaxed by the shape of a star - because that is what you have been and continue to be for us. Society President David Drobis is here to present it. Your beloved Stacey is here to accept it. And we - for every member of the Society - are here to applaud and remember you always.

"So hear us well, friend, mentor, and colleague Patrick Jackson: You did us proud!"

Exclamation point, God bless, and Amen.