Milt Jones, founder and president of Desert Publications, Inc., recently received the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Palm Springs Desert Cities' “A Legend of Advertising Award” Feb. 28 at The Show, Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa.
The presentation was made during AAF’s annual Addy Awards Gala.
Jones, a leading innovator and advertising guru, heads The Jones Agency and its parent company, Desert Publications Inc. He is publisher of Palm Springs Life magazine and other lifestyle and tourist publications.
Professional advertising executives from throughout the Coachella Valley were present and gave Jones a standing ovation following a video on his life and career and a presentation by Kyle Radke, senior vice presidend and general manager of the Jones Agency.
“How can I describe what he has accomplished in advertising for 60 years in three minutes?” Radke asked before making the presentation.
She praised his “out of the box” thinking in promotion of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, and described him as an innovator and key player in the formation of such world famous attractions as the Bob Hope Classic, Kraft Nabisco Golf Tournament, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, and Spa Hotel.
The video showed Jones with presidents, entertainment and sports legends.
“He understood social media before there was such a thing,” Radke said.
The Desert AdFed (“Addy”) awards are a three-tier competition based on media that appeared Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2013. The awards are judged by a panel of experts.
Local winners compete regionally and then nationally. Co-chairs of this year’s Addy Awards Gala were Scott Burch and Ethan Kaminsky
