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Halcyon Founder Smith Dies at 53
DALLAS–Former Halcyon Associates president and founder Dwight Smith died last week of a heart attack at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, according to reports. He was 53. Smith had recently helped form Reunion Group, a shop specializing in entertainment production, graphic design and public relations, with a team including Jim Grant, Mike Kubiak and Tim Schoenbauer. He was previously managing director of communications with Dallas’ Richmont, the parent firm of Halcyon he joined in September 1997. Reunion’s Kubiak said the new agency will continue in Smith’s absence. Memorials may be made to Baylor Health Care System Foundation, 3600 Gaston Ave., Suite 100, Dallas 75246.
Pier 1 Launches ‘Reasons’ Campaign
DALLAS–Pier 1 Imports of Fort Worth, Texas, last week unveiled its new in-house created campaign around the slogan, “So many reasons to love Pier 1.” Television spots began airing last week on network and cable buys. Supplemental print ads will appear in publications such as Parade, USA Weekend and Better Homes and Gardens. Billings were undisclosed. Pier 1 spent more than $40 million on advertising last year, according to Competitive Media Reporting.
Cummings McGlone Acquires Swell Marketing
DALLAS–Newly formed Cummings McGlone & Associates in Dallas acquired Swell Marketing here last week to create a public relations firm with $1 million in combined fees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Swell president Elena Rohweder joins CM&A as senior vice president and director of client services. CM&A was founded in February by partners Brian Cummings and Neil McGlone.
Miller Lite Previews New Retro Spots
CHICAGO–Minneapolis-based Fallon McElligott’s new campaign for Miller Lite takes the brand back to its roots with retired jocks as well as a sportswriter, a supermodel and musicians bantering over the beer’s attributes. “Miller Lite. The great taste of a true pilsner beer” is the new tagline. Stars of the ads include baseball greats Robin Yount and George Brett; baseball near-greats Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams and Lee Smith; the band Earth, Wind and Fire; ex-National Football League quarterbacks Dan Fouts and Kenny Stabler; and Sports Illustrated’s writer Rick Reilly. In pairs, the stars are shown trading good-natured professional jibes and disagreeing over whether Miller Lite’s taste stems from its pilsner brewing process or choice hops. The spots were shown at Miller’s distributors convention in Nashville, Tenn., this week. Square One in Dallas handles Miller Lite’s Hispanic advertising through unit Uno Comunicaciones.
For the Record
SicolaMartin, Austin, Texas, did not make a presentation for the Garden.com account [Adweek, March 1