03-05-2025
Late John Appleyard honored with induction into Advertising Hall of Fame
The late John Appleyard, a key figure in Pensacola's advertising history, has been posthumously inducted into the Florida and Caribbean American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes his significant contributions to the industry and marks him as the first person from Pensacola to receive this distinction.
Appleyard's visionary leadership transformed the local advertising scene when he co-founded the Appleyard Agency in Pensacola in 1959 with his wife, Eleanor. Under his guidance, the agency pioneered comprehensive advertising services, setting a new standard for the industry in Pensacola. His entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach laid the groundwork for the region's advertising community for generations to come.
From the beginning, Appleyard knew that success was about more than growing its business. Growing the community was at its heart.
In public service he was board chairman of First Union/Wachovia Bank, West Florida Hospital, and was a board member of United Way, United Way foundation, Junior Achievement, Pensacola Museum of Art, PJC Foundation, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, and Honor flights serving WWII veterans.
John Appleyard: Pensacola loses beloved historian, storyteller: John Appleyard dies at 97
Each organization appealed to Appleyard for its reputation for giving back to the community and creating positive change – the lynchpin of his advertising agency.
The same year he founded the agency, 1959, was the year of Pensacola's Quadricentennial celebration, which Appleyard helped coordinate at the state level. This assignment led to his lifelong fascination with the history of Pensacola.
In 1993, John's son, Dick, took over the reins as CEO. While remaining involved in the agency, John Appleyard now had more free time to deeply commit to the community and in short order gave a new definition to 'community volunteer.'
He wrote more than 120 books and monographs on Northwest Florida history and earned more than 100 Freedom Foundation awards. He authored a 30-part history series for Cox Cable and the Escambia County School System. He later wrote a weekly column for the Pensacola News Journal.
Appleyard kept the history of Pensacola alive, but he also played a significant role in shaping who we are and what we have. He put the Port of Pensacola in front of a national audience with his monthly magazine through the Appleyard Agency, he led the sesquicentennial celebration for the city that got an entire community hooked on our history. Using the resources and skillset of the agency, he raised funds and awareness for so many causes, including the creation of Veterans Memorial Park and monuments honoring World War II and Korean War veterans.
As the former director of the Home Builders Association of West Florida, Junior Achievement and Lions Club, he impacted generations of business leaders.
He believed his role was to promote Pensacola and not himself.
And he promoted us every opportunity he got. Over the years, Appleyard gave hundreds if not thousands of lectures at civic programs, at Pensacola State College and UWF's lecture series, on WBSR radio and WCOA radio.
Remembering Jon Appleyard: John Appleyard left indelible mark on all who knew him | Column
Much of that history will live on through the Appleyard Storytelling Cottage, a restored historical cottage in the Historic Trust campus. Appleyard led the family in creating a family foundation, which continues to give back to the community in numerous ways, as does the Agency.
The significance of this honor was underscored by his son, Dick Appleyard, at the AAF Hall of Fame presentation.
"Thank you very much for honoring my father as an Advertising Hall of Famer," Dick Appleyard said. "In our little panhandle of Florida, he was and is a legend. Keep in mind he was born in 1920, started in Advertising in 1958, and worked until he was 97."
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: John Appleyard honored with induction into Advertising Hall of Fame
