PPB April 2018

IN MEMORIAM Ralph Laird, MAS Ralph Laird, MAS, former owner of Blue Frog Promotions and a PPAI Fellows program recipient, passed away in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, on January 7. He was 78. Laird graduated from Virginia Tech and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. While in the promotional products industry, Laird was an active member of PPAI. He participated in several of the Association’s committees, including the Technology, Terminology and Standards Committee, the Distributors Advisory Council, the Conventions Advisory Council and the Membership Services Advisory Council, among others. Outside the promotional products industry, Laird was an elder and head usher at Lakeside Presbyterian Church, a past president of Dixie Heights Booster, and for more than 20 years served as a Crestview Hills city council member. Laird is survived by his wife, Charlotte; son Ralph and his wife, Pennie; and son James and his wife, Mary Kay; and grandchildren Drew, Parker, Miles, Georgia and Camille. Services were held at Lakeside Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Laird’s name to the Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund. IN MEMORIAM / T. Carl Badgett, CAS T. Carl Badgett, CAS, a member of the PPAI Board of Directors from 1978 to 1982 and an inaugural PPAI Fellows program recipient, passed away in Miramar Beach, Florida, in January. He was 88. Born in Tennessee and a graduate of Auburn University, Badgett served in the U.S. Air Force and worked in the restaurant business before joining the promotional products industry. Fort Madison, Iowa‑based Sheaffer Pen Company hired Badgett to help establish its specialty advertising business, eventually relocating him to Dallas, Texas. After 15 years with Sheaffer Pen, Badgett bought a promotional products company in 1973 and relocated it to Houston, Texas. He sold that company in 1999 and retired in Miramar Beach. Badgett was a member of the Executives Association of Houston and was a founding member of the Southwest Specialty Advertising Association. He served as PPAI’s vice chair in 1982. Badgett is survived by his wife, Dona; his daughter, Carla de Varona, and her husband, Jack; his grandchildren, Cecily and Cara; and grandchildren by marriage, Victoria, Jasmine, Madalyn and Quinn de Varona. A memorial service was held at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Badgett’s name be made to the Emerald Coast Theater Company, the Wounded Warriors Project or a charity of choice. Pro Towels (PPAI 112755) — Allan Benson , promoted to chief operating officer, and Neil Friedman , director of business development and the FOTO Vision line Polyconcept North America (PCNA), parent company of Leed’s (PPAI 112361), Bullet (PPAI 113079) and JournalBooks (PPAI 110769) — Mary Rech , hardgoods field sales manager for Wisconsin Pro Towels (PPAI 112755) — Kathy Benson , promoted to key account manager Stahls’ (PPAI 189660) — Debra Romalia , promoted to vice president, content marketing Storm Creek (PPAI 438091) — Evan Maguire , principal owner of Maguire Marketing Agency, to represent the company in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming Toddy Gear, Inc. (PPAI 516677) — Dustin McCormick , account executive GOT NEWS? We’ll share it. Send your people news, including high‑resolution images, to PPB News Editor James Khattak at JamesK@ppai.org Neil Friedman Dustin McCormick Evan Maguire Debra Romalia Kathy Benson 90 | APRIL 2018 | CONNECT