Mike Pigott, founding partner of McNeely Pigott & Fox PR in Nashville, died June 29 from a heart attack. He was 61.
The former newspaperman teamed with Mark McNeely in 1988 and later with David Fox to build the Nashville firm that ranked 54th on O'Dwyer's listing of independent firms with 2014 fees of $6.7M and 56 staffers.
MP&F has done work for Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Hospital Corp. of America, Country Music Hall of Fame, Skanska Construction, CSX Transportation, BlueCross/Blue Shield of Tennessee, Feld Entertainment, Tennessee Titans and The Hermitage.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said Pigott "understood Nashville as well as anyone did."
MP&F PR posted on its site: "Mike Pigott was one of a kind. Talented writer, a loving husband and father, the quickest wit in any gathering, world traveler and ballroom dancer extraordinaire. Everyone who knew him has lost a true friend and our hearts go out to Sharon, his three wonderful daughters and the many other members of his family."
Makovsky & Co. officially ended its operations on June 30 after a 47-year run as an independent New York-based firm.
Adfero, the DC-based public affairs shop that served the healthcare, technology and energy sectors, closed its doors on June 30.
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