Hugh Russell Wilks Jr.

Hugh Russell Wilks Jr., who carried a journalism and public relations legacy into the world of international business, died Dec. 31, 2023 in Monterey, California of complications related to cancer and age. He was 90.

It was in 1959, following the advice and with the blessing of his father, for whom he was named, that Russ, as he was called, accepted a job with Chas. Pfizer & Co. Inc., “a growth company with investment stature,” as his father called it. “You should have a wonderful future there,” his father said, as stated in correspondence from Hugh Russell Wilks to his son dated October 5, 1959.

Thus began a public relations career that would take him from New York to California, and later to London, England where his ability to establish strong working relationships allowed him to build an international network of agencies designed to simultaneously launch products throughout Europe. It was a respected strategy that would catch the attention of others and eventually make him an admired public relations executive on two continents.

His own father went from Tennessee to Detroit and was a newspaperman in the 1920s before embarking on this new profession just beginning then in the world of business — public relations. Russ made the same determination, leaving an early journalism career as a reporter for the Plainfield Courier-News to pursue public relations. Pfizer would be that first P.R. job for him, family members recalled.

Russ was born in Port Washington, New York on Dec. 1, 1933, the youngest child of Hugh Russell Wilks and Lucy Svoboda. He would enjoy life on Long Island with his older brother William (Bill) and sister Marilyn, including during his years at Manhassett High School, where football and baseball captured his attention. He would often regale his family with stories of playing football with Jim Brown, then a younger classman on those Manhassett High teams. Brown, of course, would go on to become one of the greatest college and professional football players of all time.

Russ attended Colgate University in New York for a year following high school, later transferring to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. There he studied journalism, continued his passion for sports by becoming the sports editor of the Stanford Daily, and graduated in 1955.

He married Marianna Harding that same year and they returned to the East Coast, landing first at Ft. Benning, Georgia where military service in the Army would last two years. His typing and writing ability landed him a position as company clerk, a position that would keep him stateside.

It was there in Georgia that they would welcome their first son, Hugh Russell Wilks, III. Three more children would eventually follow, Douglas, Ann and Susan.

His time at Pfizer would last until 1966, when the family moved from New York to California where Russ took a job with Syntex Corp, a growing pharmaceutical company. It was a return to Northern California for the family with regular trips to the beach for body surfing in spring and summer, as well as to the end zone of Stanford Stadium in the fall — Beat Cal!

His children recalled fondly their father's ability to make good, loyal friends whether professionally at work, or in the community at church, or simply sitting in a restaurant chatting up the wait staff. His sense of humor was noted even in his final days by the wonderful caregivers at CHOMP — Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula.

He left Syntex in1978, which coincided with the dissolution of his marriage. He left for London, England to begin his own public relations company, Academy International. Additionally, he was associated with Intermarc — International Marketing Communications — and gained clients throughout Europe as a public relations businessman. He married Judith Miller, and together they often worked side-by-side in those early years in London, seeking clients and building the business in both Europe and the U.S.

Academy was later acquired by BBDO advertising which returned Russ and Judith to New York for the remainder of his career. They would later retire to Carmel Valley, California where they became fixtures in the village, he enjoying golf, and together associating with friends over dinner, often at Wills Fargo and other local establishments.

He would lend his P.R. talents to the Chartwell School in a volunteer capacity assisting its mission of unlocking the potential of students suffering from dyslexia.

Russ is survived by his sister, Marilyn Hoellen; children, Hugh Russell Wilks, III (Carolyn Jarrett), Douglas Harding Wilks (Christiana Taggart), Ann Wilks Taylor (Bradford Taylor), Susan Wilks Wynn (Greg Wynn); step-sons Gregory Miller and Christopher Miller; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his wife and brother.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send a donation to Chartwell School, Office of Advancement, 2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside, CA 93955. Federal tax ID: 77-0119013. You can click on the Donation link below.