PR

Fernando Valverde

ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA

1935–2020

Many communicators consider Fernando Valverde the “father of public relations in Puerto Rico.” He was the first professional there to earn APR accreditation. In 1992, PRSA inducted Valverde into the College of Fellows. He was a friend of the late Edward Bernays and organized two visits of Bernays to Puerto Rico. These included presentations to students, media interviews and participation in the awards held by the Puerto Rico Public Relations Professionals Association. Valverde served as president of the association, which later renamed its annual Presidential Award in his honor. His book, “Public Relations in Action,” is a benchmark of successful case studies. Valverde worked as a professor in a master’s degree program for public relations, which he created at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón.

A visitor to the Museum of Public Relations in New York City uses an antique stereoscope to view an archival image in three dimensions. Opened in 1997 by Shelley and Barry Spector, the Museum is the first of its kind in the world, and features exhibits, research materials, conferences, historical and cultural activities, podcasts and more. PRSA thanks the Museum of Public Relations for its support, including access to hundreds of images for “75 Years of Impact and Influence — People, Places and Moments in Public Relations History” as we celebrate our profession’s past and turn our eyes to the future. (Courtesy of the Museum of Public Relations)