12 Facts About Pendleton Dudley

Pendleton Dudley was an American journalist and public relations executive.

Pendleton Dudley was the father of the choreographer Jane Dudley and composer Margaret Purcell, and was the husband of the motorist Hermine Jahns.

Pendleton Dudley attended Mexico High School in Mexico, Missouri, for two years before he had to drop-out to assist with the family store due to his father's ill health.

Pendleton Dudley began working as a part-time reporter and typesetter for the weekly Troy Free Press while still employed at the family store.

In 1898, inspired by an article he had read in the Saturday Evening Post titled "Working Your Way Through College", Pendleton Dudley began putting-away a portion of his earnings to attend university.

Pendleton Dudley was eventually hired as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal on the recommendation of his friend Ivy Lee.

Pendleton Dudley was retained to mount a campaign to launch the political career of Woodrow Wilson, then president of Princeton University.

Pendleton Dudley last spoke about the Wilson project in 1959 to say only that it was a "highly confidential matter", exposure of which would be "damaging to our profession".

Pendleton Dudley was heavily involved with the Public Relations Society of America, founding one of its predecessor groups and serving as the first chairman of the Foundations for Public Relations Research and Education, forerunner to the Institute for Public Relations.

In 1915 Pendleton Dudley returned to Mexico, Missouri, where he was feted as one of two guests of honor, along with Jouett Shouse, at the Mexico High School alumni banquet.

In retirement, Pendleton Dudley lived at his home in Pleasantville and maintained ownership of his firm.

At the time of his 1966 death, Pendleton Dudley was known as the "dean of public relations".