Richard Christian, Chicago Ad Executive, Dead at 84

By Kevin Robinson in News on Oct 7, 2009 3:00PM

Richard Christian, a local ad executive, died of congestive heart failure over the weekend. Christian, a founder of the Chicago-based Marsteller ad agency and Burson-Marsteller Public Relations, was best known for creating the well-known and oft lampooned Keep America Beautiful public service announcement, featuring "Iron Eyes Cody", the iconic Native American who sheds a tear at the end of the ad after witnessing the littering of America.

Christian graduated from Northwestern before going on to co-found the ad agency that created the ad. He went on to join the teaching faculty at Northwestern in 1984, a position that he held until 1991. "He had a very unique ability for getting along with people," Harold Burson, his partner at Burson-Marsteller told Advertising Age, "His people skills were extremely good, both within and outside the organization. He knew a lot of people, and they had a lot of confidence in him. He was a man of great integrity." Aside from the famous "Crying Indian" spot, Christian also came up with the classic Danon ad for LeYogurt, featuring dancing Russians.
Christian was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame in 1991.