Past National President, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
and Past President, PRSA Washington, D.C. National Capital Chapter
NEW YORK (July 10, 2007) – Harland “Hal” Warner, APR, Fellow PRSA, past president of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), passed away July 4 at his home in Vienna, Va. Warner served as national PRSA president in 1993 and was a charter member of the PRSA College of Fellows. He was also president of the Washington, D.C. National Capital Chapter in 1987 and served in many other leadership roles, including the initial formation of the Chapter’s Hall of Fame in 1999. In 1996, he received the Gold Anvil Award, the national Society's highest individual honor.
“He was a giant in our industry — a pioneer in strategic planning and global public relations, a mentor to countless professionals as well as PRSA and industry leaders. His work in corporate and agency public relations was groundbreaking and his leadership in crisis communications planning set the stage for the profession,” said PRSA Chair and CEO Rhoda Weiss, APR, Fellow PRSA.
“Hal was a dedicated public relations practitioner with tremendous drive. He was an innovative thinker and the prime force behind ‘Blueprint 2000,’ the organization’s first long-term strategic plan,” said Joseph Vecchione, APR, Fellow PRSA, 1994 PRSA national president.
“Hal was the consummate professional and more importantly, an exceptional gentleman. He recognized the importance of moving PRSA into the new millennium and as president-elect, readily accepted my challenge to take on the Blueprint 2000 strategic plan and carry it through his term of office,” said Rosalee A. Roberts, APR, Fellow PRSA, 1992 PRSA national president.
During his professional career, Warner was considered one of the nation's leading experts in crisis communications planning. For the 30 years he was with Corning, Inc. and then the public relations firm Manning Selvage & Lee, he helped dozens of companies prepare for or prevent disasters such as floods, protests and product recalls.
Warner is survived by wife, Joyce; children Gregg, Brian, Mark, Susan and Karen; and nine grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Missionary Fund at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 711 Spring Street, Vienna, VA 22180, or to Capital Hospice, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042.
About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org), headquartered in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into 109 Chapters nationwide and 20 Professional Interest Sections and Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 284 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
