Fall 2002

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Charlie Wellborn: “Guru of magazines”

Charles G. Wellborn Jr., MA 1958, professor emeritus of public relations, died Aug. 3 in Gainesville after a long illness. He was 77.

Wellborn retired in January 1987 after 19½ years on the faculty.

He was the architect of courses in Editing and Graphics and Business/Technical Communications, which were the core of the public relations and magazine curriculum for many years.

The Florida Public Relations Association honored him with the John W. Dillin Award for his “outstanding career in public relations.” The Florida Magazine Association honored him with the McIntire Award for service to FMA, the “30” Award for “lifetime achievement in magazines” and created the “Charlie Award” to recognize the top entry in each category of its annual magazine contest. He directed FMA’s competition and annual spring conference for editors for two decades.

He was also honored as an outstanding teacher in the College.

A retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army, he was a former editor of the Army’s Information Digest.

He is survived by a son, Jim Wellborn, and daughter, Georgia Britt. Dr. Linda Childers Hon is his stepdaughter.

Charlie Wellborn gone fishing

Remembering Charlie Wellborn

When Charlie Wellborn retired in 1987, Terry Van Nortwick, PR 1970, MA 1977, president of Production Ink (now PRO iNK), saluted her former teacher and friend and quoted others. Excerpts are reprinted from her story in the Spring 1987 communigator:

Van Nortwick wrote, “There are three men who have made a major impact on my life—my father, my husband and Charlie Wellborn … we mourn his retirement for the hundreds of students who will not get to know this guru of publications, the professor who really did what he taught, the ‘colonel’ who helped launch us into the real world with mountains of practical advice and a sprinkling of home-spun stories of life in the South.”

She quoted these others:

Ralph Lowenstein—“For nearly two decades, Charlie Wellborn was the College to the magazine industry in Florida.”

Don Turk, ADV 1968, PR 1972—“As much as any college professor I’ve known, Charlie maintained contact with former students, individually and professionally. Few others have made an impact on their students as Charlie. And he did it with a special warmth and style.”

Patricia Trubow, PR 1971, MA 1972—“When I was a student I’d have dined on Rice Krispies for the day if Charlie hadn’t fed me on more than one occasion. He’s been a special friend … as an adviser, reference and resource for numerous projects—ranging from buying a car to installing a sound system.”

J. David Huskey, ADV 1968, PR 1969—“Ahh, the Colonel. Thanks for the knowledge, the time, the patience, for the counsel, the guidance, the encouragement, the inspiration; for the hospitality, the friendship. Thanks for the memories.”