Paul B. Zucker's career in public relations was terminated by an early death; nevertheless, he rose to become executive vice-president of one of the leading public relations firms in the country and a well-known figure in international marketing. He was also noteworthy for the number of contributions which he made to public relations management techniques, primarily in the areas of client programming and the channeling of creative effort.
Paul Zucker was born in New York City in 1924. After service with the Air Force during World War II, he joined the staff of the New York Herald Tribune. In 1947 he left New York to accept a position in the editorial department of the Baltimore News-Post and Sunday American. The following year he began a three year association with the public information department of the American Red Cross. During this same period Zucker resumed his education, graduating from Washington Square College of New York University in 1947. He subsequently did graduate work at Johns Hopkins University and at Columbia University.
In 1952 Zucker completed his transition from journalism to public relations when he joined the infant firm, Ruder & Finn Associates. Two years later the rapidly growing agency promoted him to the position of vice president in charge of account operations. During the late 1950's and early 1960's the firm expanded to serve international public relations needs, and in 1963, while still continuing to occupy his former position, Zucker was named president of Ruder & Finn's subsidiary, Ruder & Finn, International, Inc. In this dual role Zucker was responsible for the majority of contracts undertaken by the agency, either on a voluntary or professional basis.
Membership in a host of public relations associations reveal Zucker as a man of broad professional concerns. At various times during his career he was an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America, a member of the Executives Committee of the Counselors Section of PRSA, an associate member of the Institute of Public Relations, and a member of the International Executives of America. A widely-published author of articles, Zucker frequently spoke to professional organizations both in this country and abroad. He also volunteered his skills to a number of civic and political groups and as a result was named to the boards of the New York Committee to Abolish Capital Punishment and the American Friends of Tel Aviv University.
Zucker died of cancer on August 19, 1967.
