“When he told me I had won, I had no idea that he had even nominated me.” Well now you know. Dick Brown, Art Director at ThomasArts, is the 2010 American Advertising Federation - Utah Professional of the Year. Co-worker Adam Morgan nominated him. The Associate Creative Director at the same full-service agency is obviously a great fan, “Dick embodies the word creativity, everything from his handcrafted calligraphy to his humorous posters and billboards. He lives and breathes his craft everyday. In fact, he is always volunteering to help with causes and uses his ideas to inspire those involved. He is truly one of the few great ad men.”

For those of you who know the humble nature of Dick, you won’t be surprised at his response. “I have to say that I feel like there are probably several hundred people who are more worthy to receive the award than I am. I didn’t think there was anybody as old as I am still around in the advertising business.”

He may be older than a lot of advertising pros, but with age brings wisdom and tons of fond memories about past projects. He particularly remembers the controversy he created with those now-famous Gus Paulos Chevrolet anti-drunk driving billboards. Gus always put one up over the holidays with some pretty vivid messages. One year Dick created the billboard beside the on-ramp to the freeway out of downtown. It said “Drunk Drivers Exit Here” and had an arrow pointing down. Of course there was no place to exit at that point, it was simply a reminder to get off the road if you are drunk. Well, it stayed up until March and was scheduled to come down anyway, but the Utah Department of Transportation notified Gus that it could be misinterpreted and drivers might just swerve off the road. UDOT threatened to paint the sign white unless it came down, which prompted tremendous media coverage. Sure enough, UDOT came out and painted it white on the very same day Gus was in Washington, D.C. receiving a large trophy commending him for his anti-drunk driving campaigns. Dick still chuckles over that one.

Dick has helped to create award winning advertising for more companies than most of us can count our age in years. Some of them include: Gus Paulos Chevrolet, 2002 Olympic Winter Games, First Security Bank, Benihana, Ken Garff Automotive, Wells Fargo, United Healthcare, Utah Travel Council, The Canyons Ski Resort, Utah Sports Commission, KUTV2, and KSL5. His co-worker Adam says, “anyone who has ever visited Dick’s office experiences something more than an advertising museum.” Dick was born and raised in Ogden and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Weber State University, where he served as Activities Vice President.

Here’s a little insight into Dick’s “wild side” if you can call it that. Before college he formed a folk singing group in high school and he took off after graduation for Los Angeles to make millions in the entertainment industry. He and the two others in his group were selected to sing and play for an ensemble called The Young Americans that toured the United States for a year and a half. Chances are (you’ll get that depending your age) that you will remember the star they traveled with, Johnny Mathis. He served a mission for the LDS Church in Great Britain from 1966 to 1968. He began his career as an art instructor for the Weber School District where he taught for 12 years - three at Bonneville High and nine at Weber High where he also taught printing and graphic arts.

While teaching he did graphic design work for a number of clients and freelanced for Dave Thomas. Dave worked under the business names, Thomas and Associates, Thomas Phillips, and Thomas Phillips Clawson. Dick’s shift to advertising came in 1984 when Dave Thomas, invited him to work as an art director at Thomas Phillips Clawson advertising, and since then Dick has worked for Dave Thomas for nearly 25 years. Dick worked as an art director, senior art director, associate creative director, and principal during his career of nearly 30 years.

Over the years, he has won many Utah Ad Federation Addys, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Won 6 Obie awards (the industry’s highest award for outdoor advertising),  ‘One Show’ Merit awards, his work has appeared many times in PRINT magazine, and a Best of Show from the ADSLC Art Directors of Salt Lake City  (Currently AIGA)

Dick was selected in 2002 to be a calligrapher for the Olympics and traveled daily to the Olympic Village to Hand Script the names of the winning Olympians on the “Diplomas” that accompanied the athletes’ medals in specially designed display boxes.

Dick has also been involved in the community and served at SLCC as a member of a PAC committee for the Graphic Design Department for 10 years. He has done, through the agencies he has worked for, pro bono work for clients such as Utah Humane Society, Tracy Aviary, the Children’s Center, Utah Food Bank and others.

Dick is active in his community of Fruit Heights, serves in his church, and currently serves on the Fund raising committee of the Children’s Center of Salt Lake City. Dick is married to the beautiful and talented Lonna Germer, and they celebrated their 41st Wedding anniversary on February 26th. Dick has four wonderful and talented children, two great son in-laws and a choice daughter-in-law, and two perfect grandkids (soon to be four).

Dick has great faith in the future of Utah’s advertising industry despite the tough economic times. “I think it’s going to be strong. There’s always room for an agency that is really good and willing to make adjustments to fit the current climate of business. Those that succeed will do so by being creative and pushing it and doing a really, really good job. One’s that aren’t really trying may have a hard time in this economy.”

Dick also faithfully remembers his past and those who stood by him. “I would like to dedicate this award to Dave Thomas. He took a chance on a high school art teacher nearly 30 years ago and made possible all that I have experienced in this amazing field. He is a hero of mine. I thank him for my successes.”

And we thank you Dick for all that you have contributed. Congratulations.

“When he told me I had won, I had no idea that he had even nominated me.” Well now you know. Dick Brown, Art Director at ThomasArts, is the 2010 American Advertising Federation - Utah Professional of the Year. Co-worker Adam Morgan nominated him. The Associate Creative Director at the same full-service agency is obviously a great fan, “Dick embodies the word creativity, everything from his handcrafted calligraphy to his humorous posters and billboards. He lives and breathes his craft everyday. In fact, he is always volunteering to help with causes and uses his ideas to inspire those involved. He is truly one of the few great ad men.”

For those of you who know the humble nature of Dick, you won’t be surprised at his response. “I have to say that I feel like there are probably several hundred people who are more worthy to receive the award than I am. I didn’t think there was anybody as old as I am still around in the advertising business.”

He may be older than a lot of advertising pros, but with age brings wisdom and tons of fond memories about past projects. He particularly remembers the controversy he created with those now-famous Gus Paulos Chevrolet anti-drunk driving billboards. Gus always put one up over the holidays with some pretty vivid messages. One year Dick created the billboard beside the on-ramp to the freeway out of downtown. It said “Drunk Drivers Exit Here” and had an arrow pointing down. Of course there was no place to exit at that point, it was simply a reminder to get off the road if you are drunk. Well, it stayed up until March and was scheduled to come down anyway, but the Utah Department of Transportation notified Gus that it could be misinterpreted and drivers might just swerve off the road. UDOT threatened to paint the sign white unless it came down, which prompted tremendous media coverage. Sure enough, UDOT came out and painted it white on the very same day Gus was in Washington, D.C. receiving a large trophy commending him for his anti-drunk driving campaigns. Dick still chuckles over that one.

Dick has helped to create award winning advertising for more companies than most of us can count our age in years. Some of them include: Gus Paulos Chevrolet, 2002 Olympic Winter Games, First Security Bank, Benihana, Ken Garff Automotive, Wells Fargo, United Healthcare, Utah Travel Council, The Canyons Ski Resort, Utah Sports Commission, KUTV2, and KSL5. His co-worker Adam says, “anyone who has ever visited Dick’s office experiences something more than an advertising museum.” Dick was born and raised in Ogden and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Weber State University, where he served as Activities Vice President.

Here’s a little insight into Dick’s “wild side” if you can call it that. Before college he formed a folk singing group in high school and he took off after graduation for Los Angeles to make millions in the entertainment industry. He and the two others in his group were selected to sing and play for an ensemble called The Young Americans that toured the United States for a year and a half. Chances are (you’ll get that depending your age) that you will remember the star they traveled with, Johnny Mathis. He served a mission for the LDS Church in Great Britain from 1966 to 1968. He began his career as an art instructor for the Weber School District where he taught for 12 years - three at Bonneville High and nine at Weber High where he also taught printing and graphic arts.

While teaching he did graphic design work for a number of clients and freelanced for Dave Thomas. Dave worked under the business names, Thomas and Associates, Thomas Phillips, and Thomas Phillips Clawson. Dick’s shift to advertising came in 1984 when Dave Thomas, invited him to work as an art director at Thomas Phillips Clawson advertising, and since then Dick has worked for Dave Thomas for nearly 25 years. Dick worked as an art director, senior art director, associate creative director, and principal during his career of nearly 30 years.

Over the years, he has won many Utah Ad Federation Addys, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Won 6 Obie awards (the industry’s highest award for outdoor advertising),  ‘One Show’ Merit awards, his work has appeared many times in PRINT magazine, and a Best of Show from the ADSLC Art Directors of Salt Lake City  (Currently AIGA)

Dick was selected in 2002 to be a calligrapher for the Olympics and traveled daily to the Olympic Village to Hand Script the names of the winning Olympians on the “Diplomas” that accompanied the athletes’ medals in specially designed display boxes.

Dick has also been involved in the community and served at SLCC as a member of a PAC committee for the Graphic Design Department for 10 years. He has done, through the agencies he has worked for, pro bono work for clients such as Utah Humane Society, Tracy Aviary, the Children’s Center, Utah Food Bank and others.

Dick is active in his community of Fruit Heights, serves in his church, and currently serves on the Fund raising committee of the Children’s Center of Salt Lake City. Dick is married to the beautiful and talented Lonna Germer, and they celebrated their 41st Wedding anniversary on February 26th. Dick has four wonderful and talented children, two great son in-laws and a choice daughter-in-law, and two perfect grandkids (soon to be four).

Dick has great faith in the future of Utah’s advertising industry despite the tough economic times. “I think it’s going to be strong. There’s always room for an agency that is really good and willing to make adjustments to fit the current climate of business. Those that succeed will do so by being creative and pushing it and doing a really, really good job. One’s that aren’t really trying may have a hard time in this economy.”

Dick also faithfully remembers his past and those who stood by him. “I would like to dedicate this award to Dave Thomas. He took a chance on a high school art teacher nearly 30 years ago and made possible all that I have experienced in this amazing field. He is a hero of mine. I thank him for my successes.”

And we thank you Dick for all that you have contributed. Congratulations.