History of AAF Mobile Bay

AAF Mobile Bay, Inc., formerly known as the Bay Area Advertising Federation, and previously the Advertising Federation of Greater Mobile, was founded in 1948, under the administration of Victor Lott, the first Ad Fed president. That same year the 7th 'Deep South' District of the American Federation of Advertising was formed. Mobile was one of the six clubs and federations present at the meeting in Birmingham, Alabama in November, 1948 to form the infant 7th District AFA. In 1967, the AFA merged with the Advertising Association of the West to form the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the largest grass-roots national advertising organization to represent all aspects of the advertising industry. The Advertising Federation of Greater Mobile became an incorporated entity September 30, 1974.

Club Achievement Winners
At the national convention of the American Advertising Federation in Washington, D.C., in June of 1989, AAF Mobile Bay, Inc. was awarded two AAF Club Achievement Awards for excellence among the Division III AAF clubs and federations âÄ&Mac185; 3rd Place in Government Relations and 1st Place in Advertising Education, which also won the Ad Fed the coveted Saatchi & Saatchi Education Award for Division III. The following year, the Ad Fed was again honored with the Saatchi & Saatchi Education Award for the creation of "Education Week." Since this time, the Ad Fed has consistently entered and won District and National Club Achievement Awards in many areas including those listed above and Club Management and Communications.

Past Presidents Council
In 1990, the Ad Fed formally adopted an amendment to the by-laws creating the Past Presidents Council. This council was formed as an advisory council to the board of directors and the executive committee, with an ex officio place on the board of directors. The Past Presidents Council selects the recipient of the President's Award, audits the books of the Federation on a regular basis, organized membership socials and membership drives, and served as the organizing committee for the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Federation.

Stacy Hammac - 2005-2006
Laura Burton - 2004-2005
James Ellis - 2003-2004
Danielle Ludlow and Greg Walker - 2002-2003
Michael Strickler and Kimble Walch - 2001-2002
Michael Strickler - 2000-2001
Charlene Patterson - 1999-2000
Laura Burton - 1998-99
Leslie Eschete - 1997-98
Kimble Walch - 1996-97
Lionelle Robitaille - 1995-96
Patty Grandquest - 1994-95
Scott Rye - 1993-94
Susan Steber (Kangal) - 1992-93
Chuck Tallman - 1991-92
Louise Bixler - 1990-91
Bettie Hudgens - 1989-90
Pat (Yunker) Hartman - 1988-89
Joe Cook - 1987-88
Paula Kizla - 1986-87
Cece Hylton* - 1985-86
Larry Norris - 1984-85
Alma Corley - 1983-84
Barbara Spafford - 1982-83
George Yurcisin - 1981-82
Don Wattrick - 1980-81
Kathy Beckham - 1979-80
Jim Hemphill - 1977-79 (1 1/2 terms)
Gary Kohler – 1977 (partial term)
Marion Hartley - 1976-77
George Waldron* - 1975-76
Mary Zoghby - 1974-75
John H. Lewis, Jr. - 1973-74
Lloyd Barnett – 1973 (partial term)
John L. Harris - 1972-73
Elden Tuttle - 1971-72
Gaby Gray - 1970-71
Hubert J. 'Pinky' Grant - 1969-70
Fred Wright - 1968-69
McGowin T. Patrick - 1967-68
Charles E. Trainor - 1966-67
Joel O. Swanson* 1964-66 (two terms)
Charles L. Dyas - 1963-64
James B. Irwin - 1961-63 (two terms)
Ray Voran, Jr. - 1959-61 (two terms)
Arthur Owen - 1957-59 (two terms)
Doris Wheeler - 1956-57
Robert Meyer - 1955-56
Richard O. Fay - 1954-55
Martin J. Johnson* - 1953-54
Winston Haas - 1952-53
Lewis - 1951-52
Morris Timbes - 1950-51
Jack H. Albert Reynolds - 1949-50
Victor Lott - 1948-49

* Denotes past president’s who also served as AAF District 7 Governor.


Student Ad Club
AAF Mobile Bay has supported both Spring Hill College and the University of South Alabama Ad Clubs as they participated in the AAF National Student Advertising Competition. South Alabama has had two fourth place awards in District 7. Spring Hill College has placed 3rd once, and fourth twice in the District 7 Competition. District 7, the birthplace of the competition, is considered one of the toughest district competitions in NSAC, with as many as 17 schools participating in any given year.