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the Brock talk
IN MEMORIAM Brock Sheridan
Editor-in-Chief Florida Equine Communications
John Filer
Greatness is measured in so many different JOHN D. FILER PHOTO ways for so many different professions. Great athletes are measured in record books, great presidents and world leaders are defined in history books and great executives in financial books and product catalogs. John Filer, whose greatness is immortalized in magazines, passed away suddenly on Feb. 8. John was the longtime art director at Florida Equine Communications, joining The Florida Horse in November of 2006. Before coming to Florida, John had also been the art director at The Thoroughbred Times and at BloodHorse LLC, with both The BloodHorse and The Horse magazines. He was an award-winning artist with all three companies, recognized with dozens of awards presented by American Horse Publications, media associations and societies for his original magazine covers, advertisement designs and article layouts. His work could make a horse photo jump off of the page and into your imagination and pleasantly escort you through the words and sentences of any article or story. He made champions appear more grand and could also help your eyes and mind navigate the statistics and lists of the most mundane agate. At Florida Equine Communications, in addition to him being the art director of The Florida
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Horse, he held the same title and his work was seen in Wire to Wire, Wire to Wire.Auction and Horse Capital Digest. He also produced the creative brand of The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association from his distinguished logo design to his artistic production of unlimited collateral including, brochures, pamphlets, awards and gala programs and materials used for everything from education and membership to legislative and lobbying. He was the ultimate team member who would work long into the night to meet a deadline or create that special graphic detail that was at the same time invisible, beautiful and invariable. His knowledge and professionalism were immeasurable. He was a slow walker, a slow talker but a fast worker. He loved his wife Mary, sons Seth and Graham, his family pets and of course, the Kentucky Wildcats. He is remembered by his longtime friends and co-workers in Florida, Kentucky and elsewhere for his love of the Florida beaches, imported beer exchange parties and for his enthusiastic enjoyment and fun that emanated as much from his personality as it did from his unique style of illustrations and cartoons. We miss you John. Thank you for the gifts that you left to all of us in the magazines on our shelves and in the volumes of memories of your friendship and love.
