Background
Hillard, Robert Ellsworth was born on November 17, 1917 in St. Paul. Son of Homer Ellsworth and Barbara Mary (Smith) Hillard.
editor-in-chief writer Navy lieutenant
Hillard, Robert Ellsworth was born on November 17, 1917 in St. Paul. Son of Homer Ellsworth and Barbara Mary (Smith) Hillard.
Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude, University of Minnesota, 1940.
Born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Hillard was a Phi Beta Kappa and a summa cum laude journalism graduate of the University of Minnesota. He went to work after graduation in 1939 as a reporter for the Des Moines Register and Tribune, after which he moved to the old Saint Louis Star-Times. Hillard served as a United States. Navy Lieutenant in the Pacific during World World War World War II Shortly after the war, he and Fleishman decided to go into business together – the two having met years earlier when Hillard covered the civil courts for the Star-Times, while Fleishman served as deputy court clerk.
The firm"s first offices were in modest quarters above a Saint Louis Woolworth"s store.
In the early years, Hillard served as the thinker, strategist, writer, and office manager for the venture while Fleishman focused on working in the community and building the business. Union Electric (now Ameren UE of Street Louis) and Anheuser-Busch were its first clients.
Hillard stepped down as the firm"s Chief Executive Officer in 1974, but remained active with the company and its clients until his retirement in 1982. His civic activities included presidency of the Urban League of Saint Louis, as well as active involvement with the Health and Welfare Council of Metropolitan Saint Louis and the Logos School.
In the years following his retirement, Hillard remained active in preserving the culture of the firm he co-founded, serving as Fleishman-Hillard’s unofficial company historian and writing a column for the firm’s employee newsletter.
Hillard died in March 2000 at his home in the small town of Caledonia, Missouri. He was 82.
President Urban League St. Louis, 1950-1952, Health and Welfare Council Metropolitan St. Louis, 1957-1959, Family and Children's Service Greater St. Louis, 1960-1962. Served as lieutenant United States Naval Reserve, 1942-1945, PTO. Member Public Relations Society of America (accredited), St. Louis Public Relations Society (president 1953-1956, National Lifetime Achievement award 1996), Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Delta Chi.
Married Nancy Jane Oxenhandler, December 30, 1973.