By Kevin McCauley
Chet Burger, the "counselor's counselor" who more than anybody else built recognition of PR as a management function, died March 22 at his home in New York. He was 90.
Burger |
Beginning a communications career as a page boy at CBS, Burger became the country's first TV reporter for that fledgling network and president of the Radio-Newsreel-Television Working Press Assn. of New York.
Exiting as national manager of CBS Television News, Burger entered the PR business at Ruder Finn. After leaving the presidency of Communications Counselors, Burger launched Chester Burger and Co.
In a nearly 25-year span AT CB&C, Burger counseled American Bankers Assn., 3M, Sears, Occidental Petroleum and ATT. The Telephone Pioneers of America honored Burger for his work, making him an honorary member, one of only two persons given that title who were not part of the Bell system.
In 1988, Burger became counsel to James E. Arnold Consultants, the successor firm to CB&C. In 1990, he became the "founding" chair of PRSA's College of Fellows.
Burger was the sole recipient of the Institute for Public Relation's Hamilton Medal for lifetime service.
Veteran PR counselor Jim Arnold remembers Burger as a pioneer in TV, technology and an innovator in the profession of PR.
"Chet may have been an expert PR practitioner, but he would want to be remembered for his contributions to PR as a management function, the management of the PR function within organizations and the management of PR agencies, said Richard Newman of the Newman Group. "He'd also want to be recognized for having one of the first telephone numbers ending in 0000."
|