Funeral services for Frank Eugene Heaston, 90, of Norman, a retired OU professor and long-time advertising professional, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2016 in Bethel Baptist Church located at 1717 W. Lindsey, Norman, Oklahoma with Pastor James Ehrlich officiating.
Frank Eugene Heaston was born to Henry C. Heaston and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Lee Morgan Heaston on March 22, 1926 in the Lacrosse community in Caddo County. He died on his 90 th birthday, Tuesday, March 22, 2016 in Norman, Oklahoma.
In 1928, Heaston moved with his family to Pocasset, where his father operated a grocery and market for many years. He graduated from Pocasset High School in 1943and the University of Oklahoma in 1949. He served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. At, OU he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Alpha Delta Sigma advertising fraternity, Phi Eta Sigma scholarship fraternity, the Order of Omega and the campus post of the American Legion.
Upon graduation from college, Heaston served the Oklahoma Press Association, Oklahoma City and was later employed with the LeBlanc Corporation, makers of Hadacol, in Lafayette, Louisiana, KSTL Radio and KSTM-TV in St. Louis, Missouri.
He joined the Gardner Advertising Company in St. Louis in1953 and retired from their New York City office in 1968. He served in the marketing, media and account services divisions and assisted in the introduction of Duncan Hines cake mixes, Purina Dog Chow and Carlton cigarettes, among other accounts. At his retirement, he was a member of the agency’s board of directors and the management committee and served as corporate Vice-President of Marketing, Media and Research. He was earlier credited with the development of the Media Area Concept (MCA), which began the allocation of advertising dollars by media coverage rather than geographic locations.
I n 1971, Heaston returned to Norman to teach Advertising in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma. He was the recipient of the Baldwin Award for Superior Teaching in 1984, the Regents Award for Superior Teaching in 1978 and the Student Press Association’s Outstanding Faculty Award in both 1978 and 1980. His courses drew students from various other disciplines as well as the J&MC School. He also served on numerous committees for the School and the College of Arts and Sciences and as interim director of the School.
For many years, Heaston coordinated and taught a newspaper advertising short course for members of the Oklahoma Press Association. He is the author of “A Practical Guide to Better Newspaper Advertising” and “A Practical Guide to Advertising in Scholastic Publications.” He also wrote “Each Fond Endearment,” a tribute to his hometown of Pocasset and his high school graduating class on the occasion of their fiftieth Anniversary. He is also the author of various articles in professional journals as well as certain Christian publications. For many years he taught a college Bible study in his home.
Heaston has served as a deacon, Sunday School and Bible study teacher and public relations coordinator for Bethel Baptist Church. He also served as a member and chairman of the alumni board for OU’s Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and as building committee chairman. He is a 50 years plus Mason and a member of the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his bothers, Orville and Raymond Heaston, and sisters, Esther Heaston and Flossie Shipley and their spouses.
He is survived by a nephew, Gary Heaston of Wichita Falls, Texas; two nieces, Sundra Brooksher and husband, Don, of Edmond and Ann Turner of Bethany; a great-nephew, Brad Brooksher and wife, Alicia; three great-nieces, Mary Turner, Elizabeth Turner and Stephanie Heaston; great-great-nephews and great-great-nieces; and other extended family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, 1717 W. Lindsey, Norman, Oklahoma 73069 or to the OU Foundation in memory of Frank E. Heaston with the College of Journalism and Mass Communication and checks mailed to PO Box 258856, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73126.
The casket will be open for viewing at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the service time and will remain closed.
Interment in Fairlawn Cemetery in Chickasha, Oklahoma will be on Monday, March 28, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.