Nov. 1, 2012
For Immediate Release

 
Dr. Russell Barclay, visiting professor of public relations at Campbellsville University, second from left, was recently inducted into the Landmarks Hall of Fame. Others attending the event were, from left, his wife Gladys Barclay; Barclay; Jeannie Clark, broadcast/digital media producer and adjunct instructor in broadcast at CU; and Dr. Keith Spears, vice president for graduate and professional studies. (Campbellsville University Photo by Deborah Tiedemann)

By Deborah Tiedemann and Mary Kutter, student news writers

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Dr. Russell Barclay, visiting professor of public relations at Campbellsville University, was inducted into Landmarks Hall of Fame at the 30th Annual Landmarks of Excellence Awards Dinner held at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, October 16.

The Kentucky Chapter of International Association of Business and the Bluegrass Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America are joint sponsors of the award.

“I am very proud to call Dr. Barclay my colleague, and Campbellsville University is very fortunate to share his expertise with our students,” Dr. Keith Spears, CU vice president for graduate and professional studies, who assists with the broadcasting program, said.

Spears attended the event with some mass communication faculty and students.

According to a press release from the Public Relations Society of America's Bluegrass Chapter, he was chosen for “advancing the practice of public relations and communications at the highest standards, practicing his profession as both an educator and counselor with a commitment to its Code of Ethics, consistently exhibiting the highest levels of leaderships and public service to the profession, volunteer service to the community, and serving as a role model and mentor to communications professionals across the nations.”

“It is quite an honor for Dr. Barclay to receive this induction because it is typically given to someone from our region and it has only been given to one other educator in its history,” Rande Swann, co-chair of the Selection Committee and 2007 inductee into the Landmarks Hall of Fame, said. “We felt since he is such an outstanding individual who has contributed so much throughout his career, he should be in the Hall of Fame.”

“I was honored beyond words,” Barclay said. “Academics rarely win such awards and I feel blessed to have this honor, coming as it does from working professionals drawn from all walks of the communications industry.”

Barclay has made major contributions to the public relations/mass communication profession by mentoring over 100 students majoring in public relations/mass communication ‘and the numbers continue to rise,” Swann said as she gave additional highlights of Barclay's career that contributed to his induction into the Hall of Fame.  Some of those highlights are:

Over 35 years preparing the next generation of public relations and mass communication professionals by teaching public relations, mass communication, with additional courses in journalism and governmental administration at eight colleges/universities in six states.

Independent communications counselor to public, private and governmental organizations;

Raising $1 million plus in grants, contributions, donations and in-kind services enhancing the education and training of current and future communications practitioners;

Volunteering his public relations, mass communication, journalism and government administration skills to numerous not-for-profit and governmental organizations through pro-bono counseling, board and committee service, serving as a guest or keynote speaker, grant writing, fundraising, development and strategic planning, and volunteer recruitment, training and supervision in service to the communities in which he lived and worked.

Barclay taught for 30 years at universities in Texas, Florida and Connecticut before retiring in 2006, and moving to LaGrange, Ky. He started two public relations programs and advised startups for two Public Relations Student Society of America chapters at various universities, including Campbellsville University. Also, Barclay began the Lambda Pi Eta chapter for all mass communications majors at CU.

As a consultant, Barclay wrote for TPS and Sony, the U.S. Air Force and advised American Airlines on its employee newsletter. He was an invited speaker at venues such as Yale's National Health Policy Institute and Connecticut's Department of Health.

Responding to what is his favorite thing about teaching, Barclay said, “I get a kick when students and former students appear on TV, or in major newspapers. I am thrilled when former students become university faculty somewhere, or significant players in big agencies. Working with young people delights me.”

Barclay came to Campbellsville University in August 2009 after growing bored with retirement. He is married to Gladys Emily Barclay, CRNA at Taylor Regional Hospital. They met 36 years ago at the University of Missouri. Barclay said they have no children except for “all the former students who stay in touch.”

PRSA and IABC co-sponsor the Landmarks of Excellence Awards annually to recognize outstanding achievement in the communications profession and the best of public relations, advertising and public affairs programs. It has become one of the region's best showcases of communications talent.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.