Martin Conroy
Martin Francis Conroy was an American advertising executive best known for a direct mail ad for the Wall Street Journal that was in continuous use for 28 years, from 1975 to 2003.
Born in Manhattan and a graduate of Xavier High School, Conroy earned a bachelor's degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross in 1943. He then served in the United States Army in Germany. Upon his return, he took a job as a copywriter at Bloomingdale's. He was on the editorial staff of Esquire magazine when he took a position at BBDO in 1950.
The subscription solicitation letter began:
Recently, these men returned to their college for their 25th reunion.
The letter goes on to note that they worked at the same company, but one man was a low-level manager and the other was president. Though the letter does not specifically state it, it implies the more successful man subscribed to the Wall Street Journal. It is widely considered a classic soft sell advertisement.
Conroy died in Branford, Connecticut from complications of lung cancer six days after his 84th birthday. He is survived by his wife Joan, his eight children, and his thirteen grandchildren.
