Ed Artzt '51

It's been nearly fifty years since Ed Artzt received his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. But rarely has a day gone by that he has not used the skills he learned at the School of Journalism and Communication.

That's because when Artzt headed south to Los Angeles in 1951 to begin his career, he had more than a diploma to show for his efforts at the University. He arrived at his first job with the ability to organize his thoughts quickly and the means to communicate those thoughts directly and concisely.

It is that ability that Artzt credits for his numerous career achievements. And that ability, he says, comes from skills taught by professors who inspired him and encouraged by a dean -- Gordon Sabine -- who made the link between journalism and advertising and got him "hooked."

"Ed Artzt's gift is the exclamation point on a very successful Oregon Campaign for the School of Journalism and Communication. It will help us complete a major part of the Allen Hall renovation and provide ongoing support for deanship." -- Tim Gleason

Now, having enjoyed a remarkable career that includes being Chairman and retired CEO of Proctor & Gamble, Artzt has decided "to put something back and say thank you for a quality education." His thank you comes in the form of a $2-million gift to the School of Journalism and Communication's Office of the Dean.

University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer said Artzt's donation and others like his are "quite literally transforming the University of Oregon from a well-regarded research university to, as a book recently put in a national study, a 'rising star' amongst public and private universities in the entire United States of America."

SOJC Dean Tim Gleason heralded Artzt's gift as invaluable to the School's future success.

"Ed Artzt's gift is the exclamation point on a very successful Oregon Campaign for the School of Journalism and Communication. It will help us complete a major part of the Allen Hall renovation and provide ongoing support for the deanship."

Artzt has contributed $500,000 for the Edwin L. Artzt Dean's Office. The gift will allow the School to complete the construction of a new dean's office on the ground floor of the east wing of Allen Hall adjacent to the new main entrance and to remodel the current dean's office, making room for much-needed faculty office space.

The designs for the new main entrance and plaza and the dean's office are under way. The School hopes to break ground on construction before the end of the summer.

In addition to the construction fund, Artzt has pledged $1.5-million to support the work of the dean's office. This gift will provide approximately $60,000 per year to support travel, office staff and other activities in the dean's office.

"Artzt's support will help the dean raise the profile of the School across the nation and will strengthen the School's ability to support a variety of faculty teaching, research and service activities," Gleason said.

Although his donation will fund the leadership of the school, Artzt firmly believes that the School's future success lies in a continued commitment to teaching the basics of clear, concise communication.

"In discussing the School with Ed," Gleason noted, "I was impressed by his memory of the education he received in the J-School and his quiet insistence that we not lose sight of core values and fundamental skills."

It is that same message that Artzt frequently shares with students he has an opportunity to speak with: "If you want to run the show someday and run it well, you had better learn to think, write and speak, in that order -- clearly, forcefully, concisely and to the point."

In honor of the this major gift to the School, the deanship will be named the Edwin L. Artzt Deanship.