New Jersey Birthday weekend 2026

 

John Benjamin Morgan was born October 12, 1986. It was a Sunday and the nearby TV was broadcasting the New York Mets on their way to a World Series victory. It's 2026 and I get to visit my son in New Jersey to help celebrate his 40th birthday. (He is an incredibly good sport because my decision to visit means he's got to assist with transportation to and from Newark Liberty Airport.) He and Allison were so very acomodating and welcoming. James is fun to observe as he obsesses with Nintento Video Game tips on TV daily. Hank, their dog, is getting use to the pattern at 28 Dorset Road in Ocean, NJ too. (Ben's hilarious impression of Hank as an Italian Mob boss complaining about "Not getting the RESPECT he believes he deserves" is most entertaining.)

Saturday - My United Airlines flight is on an Airbus plane and not crowded. (I got a window seat with two empty seats in my row.) Flight on time and Ben picks me up on a sunny day and it's just about 60 degrees out. 

The plan for the day is to collect flowers among the many Sun Flowers at Holland Ridge Farms. Ben, Allison, James and Allison's mom Jean are up for the activity. The place is expansive with a Windmill spinning in the distance. Hundreds of cars are parked and people que up for entrance to the place where they can cut flowers and carry them in a bucket provided. Jean, Ben and Allison are ready to fill their buckets while James mans the industrial bolt cutter to trim flowers from their root. Lots of steps in this day. After a few hours we are making our way back to the parking place closer to the entrance (where a giant cornucopia of pumpkins and squash are an early photo op location). 

We locate the car parked in this huge multi-acre farm space, We load the ample supply of flowers (which will later be brilliantly arranged by Allison in the kitchen and living room at home). Jean let her purse rest on the ground behind the car. (We were in the car about to leave when Jean noticed her purse missing. The good news is that Ben was on the case almost instantly. Retracing steps to the parking spot and checking into the barn-like entrance. Presto, someone was honest enough to turn the purse in at the gift shop. Ben alerted us via cell phone that the purse was FOUND. Catastrophe averted.

Cheesecake Factory in Freehold, NJ is the Dinner plan. The minor delay with the lost purse was not able to make us miss or reservation at the crowded restaurant for our party of five.  The Mac-n-Cheese is to die for; Meatball sliders for me; James loves the flatbread cheese pizza, and we could not resist sampling the Cheesecake.

Sunday - It's a rainy day in Ocean, NJ but that means we can "chill" a bit. The YouTubers on TV are offering continuous demonstrations of Nintendo Roadblox Super Mario game tips for James. (He gets up around 5:30 a m to start his day). James is recruited to help mom follow the directions with the recipe steps in making a deliciously moist Trio Leche cake which will be the central focus of Monday's Birthday Party.

James gets busy planning his own birthday party THE JAMES GAMES which will include long jump, hoops, grown-up activity and more. An trip to WalMart was achieved to design and create a sample custom stenciled sweatshirt. 

Monday -  Debra and David Schatzow make an early cameo appearance. Toby and her caregiver, Felicia arrive. Jean arrives. Perry, Autumn and Samson and Marlow (the Knockout) arrive. A lovely and leisurely feasting on Trio Leche cake leads to an impromptu whiffle ball baseball game with kids (including Romeo and Felix from next door for part of the game).

Tuesday - Ben is up and ready to allow Hank out to do his business and greet a new day. Incredibly, I'm in line at Newark Liberty Airport concourse C by 4:45 a.m. to make it in time for a casual Dunkin' Donut coffee while I wait for boarding that beings at 6:35 a.m. 

 

 

 

 

Ben

 

Happy Birthday Ben. So great to be in Ocean, NJ and celebrating the big 4 0 with him, along with Debra and David; Perry/Autumn/Samson/Marlow; Toby/Felicia, Jean (Gigi), Allison, James and Hank.

John Benjamin Morgan was born October 12, 1986 at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey. Dr. Mal (Lynn's "Uncle Marty") delivered Ben and his older sister Lindsey. Both births were joyful experiences for Lynn Stevens Morgan and Wesley A. Morgan. 

 John Benjamin Morgan is named after his great grandfather, my dad's dad who was born in 1887 in Kinmundy, Illinois. He was also known as Ben. He graduated Kinmundy High School in a class of 3 students (Two boys and a girl). The boys both decided to go to Saint Louis and study in medicine. They both became doctors. 

Management Planning, Inc. (MPI), Vice President

Since joining MPI in 2017, Mr. Morgan has executed engagements to value closely-held securities of companies operating in many industries.  In support of the foregoing, he has prepared documented valuation analyses for presentation to management, directors, and stockholders of client companies, as well as to attorneys, accountants, other fiduciaries, and the Internal Revenue Service.  The valuation work and analyses prepared by Mr. Morgan have been used for the following purposes:

Brown Smith Wallace (BSW), Manager – Transaction Advisory & Litigation Support

At BSW, Mr. Morgan executed business enterprise and equity valuation engagements from proposal and time budgeting process through financial analysis and final deliverable transmission. He specialized in valuation for gift and estate tax planning, exit strategy, financial reporting, and management planning purposes.  As part of his valuation procedures, he performed detailed due diligence through management interviews and independent research to uncover potential valuation adjustments and cash flow add-backs. Mr. Morgan managed the valuation practice of BSW, including a team of staff and senior associates.

 Ernst & Young (EY), Manager – Transaction Advisory Service – Valuation & Business Modeling

At EY, Mr. Morgan performed fair value premise legal entity valuation for tax and restructuring purposes.  Through goodwill impairment testing and purchase price allocation analysis, he valued intangible assets including trademarks, trade names, customer relationships, patents, and assembled workforce. He managed a team of staff and senior associates on various large and small client engagements. Mr. Morgan supported conclusions through the use of income, market, and cost valuation approaches and performed guideline public company and transaction analysis, discounted cash flow modeling, and cost of capital development.

Valuation Research Corporation (VRC), Senior Analyst – Portfolio Valuation

While at VRC, Mr. Morgan assisted with the estimation of fair value of illiquid debt and equity securities for financial reporting in SEC filings. Performed credit analysis on portfolio assets of publicly traded investment companies. Assessed creditworthiness and value through ratio and budget analysis. Built complex cash flow excel models for dynamic and flexible scenario analysis.

Publications

• “5 Reasons You Need a Business Valuation” – St. Louis Business Journal – May 2017
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• “So, What’s Your Startup Worth?” – Entrepreneur Quarterly – November 2016
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• “An end to valuation discounts” – St. Louis Business Journal – September 2016

Cleveland - Urbana July 2026

 

 

Janie, by default, gets the prize for applying her Soccer Mom skills to patiently and calmly drive round trip from the Winton Place to Urbana, Ohio (home of Jim Varney, Sarah, and the Amazing 2 year old Morgan). 

This trip managed to incorporate a class of 74 birthday bash at Around the Corner in Lakewood on Saturday 7/25/26. (A celebration of classmates turning 70.) 

Urbana - About 3 1/2 drive (round trip 7 hours) is a pretty full day. Add a quick visit with Lynn and her new dog Rocky and a hearty meal at Bob Evans - it was a full day Monday 7/27/26. Morgan was a blast showing her skills in use of crayons on my impromptu coloring book; showing us her pile of toys (Lego blocks, Duck, dolls etc.): and racing around the table - paying me a pretend toll every round trip - laughing and smiling. 

We where also treated to the arrival home of Lane, just off the Urbana Country Club golf course.  

Chain of Events - probably not in correct sequence/order

July 24 - Friday Southwest Airlines STL to CLE arrives 3:20 p m Lorain rock music festival with Queen tribute band. 

July 25 - Saturday Marshall Fredericks sculpture downtown. CMA Lake Effect show and visit to Spaces. Saucy Pizza, The Hinge, Green Goat, Metro Parks Wallace Beach (ice cream)... Dan's studio.  Sibling Revelry with Janie and Around the Corner 70 birthday bash. Heather Heideloff, Pat Connors, Derrick and Doug Finan in from NC, Leslie Huey Yousko, Loretta Gavin, Nan Mager, Ted Brandt, Jeff Schubert, Dan Mullen, Sue Wheeler, Bob and Paula Lyons, Bill Duge, Penny Golden Larson, Gary Koch, Janie Blades, Mary McGann McGreggor, Cindy and Patrick Hyland), Jim Spellacy, Harry Link, Pat McCarthy, 

July 26 - Sunday - 11:30 a m mass at St. John Cantius (separate the wicket from the righteous fishing net metaphor), Dan's Studio, Green Goat, Whole Foods, Patron Saint.

July 27 - Monday - Janie pick up at Winton 8:45. Drive. 12:20 arrive Urbana. Quick visit with Lynn and Rocky. Visit with JV, Sarah, Morgan. Bob Evans breakfast at 3:00. Back to Lakewood. Drop me off at Summer Place (former location of Swingo's).

July 28 - Dan's Studio, Green Goat, Airport Southwest Airlines 8pm - arrive 9:something. Home before 10.  

What I've been up to - Spring/Summer 2026

 

A peek at my Spring/Summer Calendar

April 9 - AMA conference at Webster University Music school

April 10 and April 17 - Laumeier tour strategy - 50 years

April 13 - Monday double red blood donation - O negative

April 24 - BCS (Dave Shogren, Joey Gavin, Al Funk) at Oh London.

April 26 - Dave Drimer died after heart valve surgery and heart attack. 

April 28 - Michael (M Jackson movie) at AMC 12

April 29-30 - MDMC at Renaissance Hotel

May 2 - 4 - New Orleans with Greg (Sundance). Art Museum, Sculpture Garden, Degas House. 

May 7 - AMA Coffee 

May 8 - Mercy Orestra Agastra appointment

May 8-10 - Laumeier Art Fair - Artist Relations

May 14- Crown at Wydowne

May 16 - teacher caucus at Butterfly House and Carousel

May 25 - A round of golf with Tom Shaughnessy, Dave and Joyce Cox at Four Seasons. "Dave, fix the ground will ya?" Says Joyce when she finds her ball in some deep rough.

May 27 - Stanley Matulewic celebration of life for HBEer at Maryland Heights Community Center.

May 29 - Friday Movie at Saint Louis Art Museum - Marie Antoinette

June 8 - Monday double red blood donation 

June 15 - Breakfast at First Watch with Mark Bretz

Jun 20-22 - New Jersey - Bruce Springsteen Center of American Music - Monmouth

June 26 - AMA Golf: Dave Shogren, Tom Nieder, Columbian -Juan Lopez, Darryl and WAM

July 3 - BCS at Oh London (Shogren, Funk, Joey Gavin)

July 10 - Movie by David Wain - Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass

July 16 - St. Louis Trophy pick up $165.00

July 18 - Kirkwood Starbucks (across fr McDs) coffee with Maureen Jennings 8:00am

July 19 - Gabriel the Archangel - The Drowsy Chaperone

July 21 - The Odessey - Movie

July 24 - Friday Southwest airlines STL to CLE

July 25 - LHS class of 74 birthday bash (70 yr)

July 27 - Janie, Winton to Urbana and back. 3 1/2 hrs X2

July 31/August 1 - STL to LaGuardia to - Natural History Museum and the Met, Mets v Marlins celebration of Drimer.

August 7-8 Fri/Sat - Nelson Atkins Museum in KC with Tom Shaughnessy - Grace party planner tour.

8/4/26 -Spiderman

8/10 - Golf with Darryl and jack at CCGC

8/18 – 8/31 - Central Print

8/22-24 - Fred Scott Funeral visitation at Shrader's Funera and Mass at Ascension

8/23/26 – Tom Shaughnessy Green Seats at Cards Pittsburgh day game

9/1/26 – Dave Cox at the Post

9/3/26 -  Bill Ellis Tara and Doug Stirrat (Be Water) Pierce Creek Creve Coeu 

9/7/26 Mon - Kaldi’s Chesterfield Airport Road – Perry Drake

9/10 Dentist, CCGC Golf

9/12 - Gayola Music - Shogren

9/17 - CCGC golf and it's 100 degrees

9/18 Fri - KC Road Trip to Nelson Atkins Museum Tom Shaughnessy

I ain't dead yet

 

I ain't dead yet but I made it to retirement at 70 and have lived a pretty full life (which I hope to keep doing for years to come.) Still I cannot help being reflective. How might my obituary read? On the whole I'm pretty ordinary and short on big philanthropy and charitable contributions. So here's what it might look like. 

Obit for me RIP

Wesley Alan Morgan (Wes)…age at the time of death TBD and place of death TBD

Wes was loving husband to Lynn (nee Stevens) who passed away Feb 2, 2022. He is father to John Benjamin Morgan (b. 1986 and married to Allison 2012) and Grandfather to their son James Benjamin Morgan (b. 2016). Wes is father to Lindsey Morgan Dewey (b. 1982 and married to husband Robert Christopher Dewey) and Grandfather to Robert Lawton Dewey (b. 2016.) Wesley A. Morgan siblings are Sundance of New Orleans, LA (formerly known as James O’Connell Morgan Jr. b. 1944), Mary Lynn Morgan of Urbana, Ohio (b. 1952), Gregory Lawton Morgan of Tampa, Florida (b. 1956), Daniel Edward Morgan of Cleveland (b. 1958) and Robert Newman Morgan of Novato, California (b. 1959)

Born in Cleveland, Ohio May 20, 1955 and lived in Hoboken, Maplewood, and South Orange, New Jersey, Los Angeles, CA, Raleigh, NC, Miami, Florida and Saint Louis, Missouri.

Wesley attended the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida and earned a Bachelor of Arts, double major (Art and English) with a focus on Graphic Design and Creative Writing and an MBA, a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis on Marketing. He also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Fontbonne University in St. Louis. Wes was a self-described lifelong art junky and was a frequent visitor to art museums (notably the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art). He was a docent at Laumeier Sculpture Park where he led over 100 tours (between 2014-2024). His working life (he would say was “episodic”) beginning with two years as an admissions representative for the University of Miami. He then pursued a career in Advertising as an account manager in New York, Los Angeles, Raleigh (NC), Miami and Saint Louis before becoming a corporate marketing officer. Morgan worked in special education and also taught art. Morgan was an advocate for professional associations and clubs dedicated to advertising, business marketing and public relations. He was a member of the American Marketing Association for more than 3 decades.

 

ABOVE - I've always had a friend named Dave. In college it was Dave Drimer, b.1956-d.2026) as UM undergrad, business school mates and Admissions reps). High School at Lakewood High School, Dave Bruner. (I was honored to serve as Best Man at his wedding 10/11/80 - far right in photo of groomsmen)

BELOW - This photo (taken by Dave Shogren) appeared in ADWEEK in 2000, An impressive group of advertising veterans including Tom Townsend who passed away at age 60. (His obit is below)  

 

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Maryville University - John Lewington

36 yrs 6 mo

Retired Dean of the John E. Simon School of Business

• 2015 - Present · 11 yrs 6 mos

  Saint Louis

• Interim Dean

  2014 - 2015 · 1 yr

  John E. Simon School of Business

  President of Delta Mu Delta Honor Society
  President of Marketing Research Institute International
  Executive Board - World Affairs Council

• Professor of Marketing

  1990 - 2015 · 25 yrs

  1990 - 2015 Teaching consumer behavior, global business, and interactive marketing courses at undergraduate and graduate level.
  2007 Lifetime Achievement Award - American Marketing Association (STL - only two given).
  2002-03 President, Sant Louis Chapter of the American Association.
  1998 - PhD Dissertation: Factors Affecting the Development of Sophisticated Database Marketing Systems.
  1996 First Refereed Journal paper on Database Marketing Systems: Harnessing the Power of Database Marketing
  

• Associate Dean: John E. Simon School of Business

  2004 - 2014 · 10 yrs

  Responsible for evening/weekend staffing for the school, adjunct instructor recruitment and training, and conduct local outreach to business and associations.

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Obituary for Thomas K Townsend

Thomas K. Townsend Age 60 of Clayton, MO.

Creative icon, community leader and philanthropist Thomas Kingman Townsend, 60, passed away in St. Louis on October 4, 2019, following a brief battle with angio sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Tom was a beloved husband, father, uncle, cousin, friend, teacher, mentor, partner, and connector of people from all walks of life. He was a passionate writer, musician, artist, photographer, philosopher, and advertising professional. He was a true inspiration to people all over the world, and had a profound impact on anyone with whom he came into contact.

Tom was born in Charleston, SC, and spent an idyllic boyhood on the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from St. John’s Country Day School in Jacksonville in 1976, and with honors from Duke University in 1980. While at Duke, he met the love of his life, Jeanne Knowles Townsend.

After college, he returned briefly to Jacksonville to begin his career in advertising. He moved to St. Louis in 1982 to be with Jeanne, who was in law school at Washington University. He was hired as a copywriter at Stolz Advertising Company. He and Jeanne were married in her hometown of Wilmington, Delaware in 1984. They began to put down roots in St. Louis, and focused on their respective careers in advertising and law. With boundless energy, drive, and creative ability, Tom rapidly rose through the ranks of the city’s most prominent advertising agencies. He became a creative director at Gardner Advertising, then a Senior Vice President and Group Creative Director at DMB&B, at the time one of the world’s largest ad agencies.

Tom and Jeanne started their family in 1988, and moved with their three small children to their present home in Clayton in 1996. That same year, together with Tim Rodgers, Tom founded the advertising agency, Rodgers Townsend, creating a culture of creativity and character that was recognized not only as the most awarded creative agency in St. Louis, but annually as one of its Best Places to Work. During Tom’s years at Rodgers Townsend, countless friendships were forged, careers were fostered, marriages were entered into, and children were born and raised. The R/T family is immense and beautiful. Today, even after the retirement of both Tom and Tim, R/T continues the legacy born and bonded over 23 years ago.
Tom’s many achievements in advertising and business included the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, the “Spirit of St. Louis” award from the Mayor of St. Louis for his unparalleled pro bono efforts, Volunteer of the Year award from the St. Louis Effort for AIDS, a “Keeper of the Park” designation from Forest Park Forever, induction into the St. Louis Media and Advertising Hall of Fame, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the St. Louis Ad Club.

In 2010, Tom and Jeanne lost their oldest child, Alex, in a car accident, while he was a graphic design and advertising student at Savannah College of Art and Design. Tom continued to lead Rodgers Townsend for several years, but was simultaneously called by Alex in several different directions. He wrote a book, In This I Will Find Beauty, chronicling the family’s first year without Alex. He wrote a book of poetry relating to the loss, and he wrote and recorded numerous songs. He travelled to India. He took up oil painting. He continued to play piano alone and in various bands, something he had done seriously since high school. He and Jeanne started the Alex Townsend Memorial Foundation and the A-Town Get Down, an art and music festival in Savannah, Georgia, intended to inspire community and creativity and to celebrate the life of Alex Townsend (“A-Town”) (www.a-towngetdown.org). In 2012, he founded Pianos For People, a non-profit organization that provides free pianos and piano lessons to children and families with limited resources, giving these families equal access to the transformative power of music. In 2013, he took a sabbatical from R/T to teach advertising at SCAD for a semester in an effort to become part of the world and city that Alex had so loved. In sum, Tom powered his way through his enormous grief by bringing Alex’s artistic and musical gifts to the masses. Finally, in 2014, he retired from R/T to devote himself full time to his philanthropic causes.

The Townsend’s philanthropic causes grew and thrived, with Tom serving as Board President, and Jeanne as Vice President, for each. The A-Town Get Down has been recognized as one of Savannah’s top festivals, and has provided thousands with the gift of art and music in its nearly ten year history. The Alex Townsend Memorial foundation has been used to fund initiatives at Oliverian School, the wonderful alternative boarding school Alex attended in New Hampshire, as well as an inspiring memorial courtyard and a scholarship fund at SCAD.
Pianos For People, which he dubbed “the happiest place on Earth,” has sourced, serviced and delivered over 260 free pianos and served over 10,000 people through its South St. Louis and Ferguson, Missouri, piano schools. PFP was the recipient of the prestigious 2017 Arts and Education Arts Innovator of the Year award, the Monsanto “Grow St. Louis” award, and various local, national, and international awards for its marketing outreach.
Tom and Jeanne were awarded Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from SCAD during its 2016 commencement ceremony for their work at SCAD and in Savannah. Tom also served for many years, did extensive pro bono work, and travelled the globe for Outreach International, a non-profit organization that provides sustainable solutions to help end extreme poverty around the world; served for many years on the Washington University Public Relations Advisory Board; did extensive pro bono work, and was a major donor and award recipient of The St. Louis Black Repertory Company; and received awards from the mayor of Savannah for his work in that city. He was excited recently to receive an invitation to serve on the Board of Jazz St. Louis, and partnered with Grammy award-winning pianist Peter Martin in Mr. Martin’s Open Studio, an online forum in which top jazz players teach their craft (openstudionetwork.com). 

In September 2018, Tom was inexplicably shot in the face in an attempted carjacking near his home in Clayton. He spent months in BJC Hospital, having numerous life-saving and reconstructive surgeries. At the time of his passing, he was facing still more surgeries. In only the way he could, Tom used this experience to learn and grow, rather than to become angry and bitter. He became more determined than ever to make St. Louis better, and to fight the forces of evil here. In his typical fashion, he used his downtime, the time his surgeon instructed him to rest and remain close to home, to create. He spent hours upon hours in his nearby art studio, painting through his pain. Hooked up to his numerous IV infusions and even a feeding tube, he conceived and created The Healing Sessions, a project in which he collaborated with various local and national musicians, and gave a young filmmaker a rare opportunity, to demonstrate the healing power of music. (Thehealingsessions.org).

You led a magnificent life, Tom. You made the world an infinitely better place. You were blessed with immense talent, immense heart, and an immense capacity for giving and forgiving. Although you were taken from us far too early, you accomplished more in a given day than most people accomplish in a year, and more in one lifetime than most people could accomplish in ten.

You taught us everything we need to honor your tremendous life and legacy—seeing potential in everyone, using our God-given gifts to better the world, offering help and encouragement to anyone in need, genuinely believing in the inherent worth of every human being, taking every possible opportunity to learn from and show interest in absolutely anyone, living every day like it’s our last, celebrating art and music because they are all that’s left when words fail, laughing at ourselves because humility is honorable, finding joy in the midst of sorrow and beauty in heartbreak, having a truly generous heart with no expectation for anything in return, being a faithful servant of God, never giving up hope, and believing fervently that love always wins.
Tom is survived by his wife and partner in life of 35 years, Jeanne Knowles Townsend; son Nathaniel (Nate) Townsend and daughter Laura Townsend Kerkhoven, each of whom he was so very proud; son-in-law Joseph Kerkhoven; siblings, Jim Townsend (Joan), Kit McRae (David), and Amanda Bristol (Mike); numerous nieces and nephews; and countless surrogate children, cousins, siblings-in-law, and friends. He is predeceased by his beloved son, Alexander Boone Townsend, and his loving parents, Dr. James Townsend and Catherine Brittain Townsend.

You touched and changed the very trajectory of more lives than you can possibly imagine. And through all of it, every bit of it, you placed your family above all else, and the good of others before your own good. We were nowhere near ready to lose you, so full of love and life you were, but we know you are at peace heading into your next adventure, and reuniting with your beautiful Alex.

A memorial celebration will be held in St. Louis next spring. Memorial contributions can be made to Pianos For People, www.pianosforpeople.org or the Alex Townsend Memorial Foundation (atownfoundation.org). 

Clifford Franklin

Clifford Franklin serves as the President of FUSE, a full-service integrated advertising agency based in St. Louis, MO and Final Phase Marketing, a management-consulting firm. The organization has over $65 million in capitalized billings. Clients have included Entergy, Washington Convention & Sports Authority, Safeway Stores, CNN, Hyundai, Anheuser Busch, IBM, Access Heath CT, United States Department of Justice, Lumiere Hotel & Casino, and the National Education Association. FUSE was also the African American advertising agency of record for the historic Obama for President Campaign in 2008 and 2012, Mark Warner for Senate in Virginia, Nixon for Governor of Missouri, Kay Hagan for Senate in North Carolina, Stacey Abrams for Governor, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, and Warnock for Senate. According to Advertising Age, FUSE is the 4th largest independently owned African American owned advertising agency in the country.

 

Final Phase Marketing is DBE, and ACDBE firm working as a consultant for the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, and as concessionaire on the Airport Advertising Contract at Denver International Airport and is a joint venture partner with Hudson News & Gift at  St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

 

Clifford is also CEO of the newly launched, online urban video network, www.gfntv.com.

 

A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Missouri, Clifford is a graduate of the University of Kansas. He has served on numerous boards including St. Louis Children’s Hospital, The St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, ARCHS, and is a life member and National Board Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He donates a vast amount of time and resources to numerous community and philanthropic organizations.

MARC KEMPTER

Founded in 1995 by J.C. Dillon, Marc Kempter, and brothers Eric and Keith Tilford, Core was a nationally recognized creative force that shook up the St. Louis advertising scene. through the early 2000s. After three years of gaining national attention, CORE became a member of Ogilvy & Mather’s “Syndicate” collection of boutique agencies and had a roster of national clients including Nike, Virgin Mobile USA, Miller Brewing Company, and Monsanto. Locally, their work for St. Louis Post-Dispatch won numerous creative awards. CORE officially dissolved in 2010, and its founders have moved on to other agency leadership roles.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead served as the commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the University of Miami's commencement ceremony on May 7, 1978.

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross served as the commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Miami on May 2, 1976. The pioneering psychiatrist shared her profound "life lessons on death and dying" with that year's graduating nursing and medical classes.

Tom Townsend RIP age 60 10/4/2019

Stephanie Camden - age 50 approx

David Drimer - age 69

Lynn Morgan - RIP 2/3/22 age 65 (just shy of 66 b day 3/30/56)

Sharon Harvey Davis - age 60 approx HBE Ameren

Jeff Kirttley - RIP age 62 approx AMA

Lynne Calloway - RIP Neu para

Chuck Carpenter - LHS class of 74 and neighbor