As a print journalism major, I found out early in my collegiate career that a traditional job in the newspaper industry was not for me, so I ventured into PR classes at USC. I didn't want to change my major—I loved the rigor of the writing discipline that print offered. But I knew I needed PR experience, so I turned to Dr. Wardrip. I was worried that because I was not a full time PR major, that I would be regarded as a lower priority in finding a PR internship, but with Dr. Wardrip, it was quite the opposite. He truly cared that I was searching for my niche at the J-School and helped me secure a wonderful internship experience like none other. He supported me, and was so genuinely interested and concerned about my work there. What a true gem the J-School has lost!

I don’t know where to begin to describe my relationship with Jon Wardrip. He could be a royal pain in the tail at times, but I loved him.

I especially loved the times he would get down on one knee in front of my desk – it was a sign of a complicated or lengthy request. Everyone thought I had trained him to do that, but in reality, he knew it would get the job done faster; or the calls from his office to my desk, breathing heavy and then asking me to make copies. As his cancer increasingly hindered him, it was a call to take him to other parts of the campus for class. No matter the pain – he went to class. Those were the times that we had an opportunity to talk about life. We learned a great deal about each other and could always find something to laugh about.

The hardest job I did for Wardrip was to pack his office over the summer. It took me longer than normal, but my emotions kept getting in the way. I went through years and years of work; awards I never knew he had received; glowing letters of thanks from former students; remnants of his former life as an Armstrong corporate executive; pictures of his children at various ages; photos from his Maymester trips; and the list goes on. Periodically, I called Jon at home to ask if he wanted to keep certain items – the response was always the same – “just the personal stuff and my Tenure and Promotion file.” Boxes later, I hoped I had it all. Of course, that did not include the boxes of things distributed to other members of the faculty, along with books that have been placed in the AD/PR area for use by students. The day I had the much worn furniture removed was the day I finally cried.

The last time I saw Jon he was in the hospital. His sense of humor had not failed him even then. As I left, with a kiss on his head and an “I love you," he said, “We never made our rendezvous, did we?” No, Wardrip, we never did, but we will one of these days.

I met Jon my first year at South Carolina. I knew that I wanted to do advertising but knew very little about the field. Jon was my advisor and my first advertising professor, and a damned tough one. Through his teaching in that course, I learned many famous campaigns and names to include David Ogilvy, for whose company I am now employed.

He taught me of a field of creativity that inspired a career. I used Jon Wardrip's inspiration to obtain two internships in advertising, work for The Gamecock's advertising department, lead SAF and ultimately, I used his inspiration as support when it was time for me to leave Columbia. He gave me the bravery to leave my family, friends and Groucho's behind, to move to a huge place two thousand miles away with skyscrapers as tall as Williams Brice is long. A place where I knew no one and nothing. His words and teachings pushed me to attain a job at one of the best advertising agencies in the world.

I currently work over 60 hours a week on the Kodak account. We have created a campaign that is rebranding Kodak from a film company to a digitally innovative company. Every hour that I work for this brand, at this company that he admired so much, I dedicate to him and his memory.

As long as good advertising exists, so will the teachings of Jon P. Wardrip.

A professor, a mentor, an advisor and a friend.

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