XXII Caples Winner Dies In Car Crash
Tragic news of the death of Ben Guice, a 25-year-old copywriter at Clemenger Direct, Australia, was made public yesterday. The young gentlemen was hit and killed by a car while walking with his sister shortly before Christmas. Sources say he never knew he and his artist partner were to win two XXII Caples Awards, as notification of the awards didn't reach the agency until the middle of January.
The Caples were the 7th and 8th major advertising awards Ben earned, every single one bestowed within the last 3 months of his life, including the coveted Winged Messenger, presented by the Australian Postal Service “for the most creative use of direct mail in 1999”. That gold trophy now adorns his parents' mantelpiece.
Andi Emerson, president of the John Caples International Awards, said “Ben Guice was exactly the kind of creative person John wanted to find and to honor.” Caples himself was just 25 when he wrote “They Laughed When I Sat Down At The Piano…”
A deputation from Australia is planning on attending Caples Night and arrangements have been made for Ben's parents, Ralph and Jenny Guice, to receive his Awards at the Marriott Hotel presentation on February 24th.
The John Caples International Awards, now in its 22nd year, honors creative excellence in the solution of Direct Marketing problems. Staffed strictly by volunteers, with 30 Country Chairs soliciting entries worldwide and with more entries than any other DM Award, The Caples is the Top International Awards Show in the Industry.
The Caples Awards are named after the Direct Response advertising pioneer and internationally acclaimed author who inspired its foundation by his determination to gain public recognition for those who do the actual creative work in Direct Advertising.
