Francisco, Don, 1891-1973

Donald ("Don") Francisco (1891-?) was an American advertising and public relations executive. A native of Lansing, Michigan, Don Francisco was born October 18, 1891, son of Will and Lillian (Burgdorf) Francisco. He received a B.S. from Michigan State University, 1914, his M.A. in 1923, and a PhD in 1949. After graduation he joined the Chicago office of the California Fruit Growers Exchange as a fruit inspector (1914-1915). In 1916 he was named assistant advertising manager (1916-1921) and as such was largely responsible for developing a large consumer market for orange juice. After six years advertising for Sunkist, he moved to Lord and Thomas as co-manager of the Los Angeles office. In 1924 he was named executive vice president of the agency and general manager for the Pacific Coast office, a position he held until 1940.

During the war he served as director of the Radio, Information, and Content Division of the Office of Inter-American Affairs in Washington (1940-1943) and then as Assistant Coordinator (1943-1945). He left the government in early 1945 and returned to New York to direct the Thompson Agency, where he served as vice president, director of J. Walter Thompson until his retirement in 1956. Francisco also served as a consultant to the State Department on national broadcasting and was on the Mass Media Committee of Enesco, as well as being a visiting lecturer at Michigan State University.