7.27.2012

ADPR and Grady mourn the loss of Don Perry (ABJ '74)

Branding chikin
Don Perry (ABJ '74). (photo by Peter Frey for Georgia Magazine)
Grady College alumnus Donald (Don) A. Perry (ABJ '74), spokesman and vice president of corporate public relations for Chick-fil-A, died suddenly early this morning.


Perry began working for Chick-fil-A in August 1983 as part of the company's public relations staff, and helped the company grow into a national chain, according to a recent profile of Perry for Georgia Magazine. During his time at Chick-fil-A, the company had established several programs, including its WinShape Foundation, which creates student scholarships and fosters community leadership. Before he worked for Chick-fil-A, the Valdosta native began his career at General Electric as part of their in-house news bureau. 


Perry was an active and involved alumnus, serving Grady College and the greater UGA community. Perry has been on Grady College's professional advisory board and on the UGA Arch Foundation's Board of Trustees since 2004. He has also served as a trustee of the UGA Foundation and editorial board member of Georgia Magazine. He was also involved with the Atlanta Press Club and the Georgia chapter of Public Relations Society of America, serving as chapter president in 1993. In 2006, Grady College awarded him the John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement AwardIn 2011, he received the Blue Key Service Award from UGA’s Blue Key Honor Society.


We will dearly miss him.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

What sad news. I was fortunate to meet and talk with Don Perry while attending the University of Georgia. Don was a wise PR practitioner and I am sure his counsel will be missed. My thoughts are with his family.