The Direct Marketing Association, New York, this week named three professionals to the DMA Hall of Fame, the industry's highest honor.
The inductees are Max L. Hart, director of direct mail fundraising at Disabled American Veterans, Cincinnati, and chairman of the DMA Nonprofit Council; Robert L. Hemmings, president of Hemmings IV Direct, Pasadena, CA; and Emily F. Soell, vice chairwoman and chief creative officer at DraftWorldwide, Chicago.
They will be inducted at the DMA's 83rd Annual Conference and Exhibition, Oct. 15-18 in New Orleans. Since 1978, 70 direct marketers have been named to the Hall of Fame.
“This year's inductees have served as role models and as an inspiration to colleagues throughout their distinguished careers, and they have contributed greatly to the growth of direct marketing,” said H. Robert Wientzen, president/CEO of the DMA.
Hart has been direct mail fundraising director at DAV since 1969 and has raised more than $1 billion in contributions for disabled veterans and their families. He was elected to the DMA's board of directors in 1990 and has acted as liaison to a number of DMA committees.
Hemmings founded four direct response agencies and spearheaded the success of direct marketing on the West Coast. His punch-card-based Findex customer-tracking system has developed into today's database marketing. He was the DMA's first Western governor.
Soell's innovations in mail order and direct mail have led her to success with Rapp Collins Worldwide and now DraftWorldwide. The award-winning copywriter has taught direct marketing creative at New York University. She also is a director of the DMA.
Each year, the DMA's board can select up to four hall of fame inductees. Candidates are suggested by the hall's committee of judges, who base their suggestions on nominations submitted by DMA members.
