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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minneapolis ad man Pat Fallon, whose upstart firm once led campaigns for luxury automakers BMW and Porsche, has died at age 70, his company said.
Fallon, a member of the Advertising Hall of Fame, died Friday with his family at his side, according to the Fallon agency he co-founded. Fallon died at a hospital after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, company spokeswoman Julie McBride said.
"We are devastated by the loss of our iconic leader. He was our inspiration, our fire in the belly, our eternal conscience and the head of our Fallon family," Fallon's CEO Mike Buchner said in a statement. "We will miss him dearly, but are fully committed to living up to the legacy of greatness that he established at the place that bears his name."
Originally called Fallon McElligott Rice, the Minneapolis agency was founded during the 1981 recession. In 1983, Fallon was named ad agency of the year by Advertising Age magazine.
The agency made a name for itself in the automotive industry, the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1O8W5cz ) reported. Current clients include Arby's, H&R Block, Loctite, Old El Paso, Starz, Under Armour and VH1.
Fallon retired as CEO in 2008 but remained as the company's chairman emeritus. On the agency's website, Fallon speaks of his company's commitment to "the responsibilities of thought leadership and social activism."
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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com
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