John Suhr

John Fredrick Suhr September 9, 1936 - September 25, 2010 COLUMBUS, GA — Columbus native son John Fredrick Suhr, 74, died peacefully, in the arms of his devoted wife, Beverly, on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at Columbus Hospice. The scene at his death was somber, quiet and dignified, likely one of the few moments in his creative, zany life at which he allowed those people around him to experience peace. Peaceful is not an adjective anyone who knew John would use to describe him. He was a tornado of activity, literally bursting with ideas on top of ideas for music, screenplays, advertising messages and pranks to play on the people he loved. And oh, did he love! John was reared by his mother and grandmother in their home above a tiny 13th Avenue thrift shop called the White Elephant. His love for flea markets and thrift malls stayed with him throughout his life. He and Beverly always kept a van as a family vehicle to return with their loot on those weekend trips to yard sales and flea markets. The big love in John's life was his wife, Beverly Bowick Suhr, but he also lived for music, art, creative writing and laughter. After graduating from Columbus High School, John spent several years at Auburn University studying advertising design and writing. During his college years he worked part-time for Litho-Krome in Columbus and upon leaving Auburn he began a short career as a staff artist at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, where he honed his signature bold, impactive, in-your-face style of advertising. Throughout his long ad career, John's work sold countless thousands of products from batteries to clothing to bank accounts to Chevrolets. He proudly represented many local companies such as Ebco Battery, W. T. Grant, Barrington Ford, Trust Company of Columbus, Pantarama, Dimensions, Pekor Iron Works, Kirven's and Bill Heard Chevrolet. His advertising messages spanned from the sublime to mostly ridiculous. His zany jingles using pictures of his lips and his own voice created advertising gold in the form of Mr. Big Volume, talking Fiats, Captain Britches, Katz Home Fashion's cat girl and spoofs on Charlie's Angels, Tony Orlando and Dawn and Charlie Rich. John Suhr left a loud, bright, crazy and very effective mark on the regional advertising scene. Not only did he successfully brand the companies he represented, he also built a style of advertising that has been copied by many also-rans over the years. John single-handedly created a style for automotive advertising that is in use by most car brands today. The biggest impact on John's advertising career was John's work with Bill Heard Chevrolet. In 1965, he became advertising manager for the then-single Bill Heard dealership. There he created the Mr. Big Volume brand that was rendered in type, animated TV spots and on radio and billboards. John left the Chevy dealership in 1968 to start Suhr Advertising, which continued to create great advertising for an expanding Bill Heard enterprise and other companies. Bill Heard, Jr. hired John again in 1980 and despite the unfortunate turn of events that ended that long-time successful business and John's employment there, he remained doggedly loyal to the Heard family until his death. In addition to his work in advertising, John was active in the local arts community. During the 1960s, he acted in numerous Columbus Little Theater productions at Wynnton Auditorium. His lead roles in "Dial M For Murder" and "The Many Who Came to Dinner" garnered John acclaim from local theatergoers. John wrote many screenplays during his creative lifetime. One he named "The Mummy's Dummy," inspired by Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," was once optioned and became a movie that won fourth place in the Houston International Film Festival. Another great hobby of John's was singing and performing. He sang in many large local church choirs and on weekends from 1954 during his senior at CHS until 1973, he performed with Jimmy Fuller and the Cavaliers. John wrote and published numerous 45-rpm singles including "I Want a Beatle For Christmas," which was recorded by young local singer Becky Lee Beck in 1964. John and Beverly hosted dozens of weekend 16-mm full-length classic films on indoor and outdoor screens at their Macon Road home. Their home was also the venue for some of the most memorable Halloween parties, complete with eerie lighting, smoke machines, spooky graves and delightfully outrageous guests. Near the end of his life, John claimed that both he and Bev were proud to have "worn the badge of eccentricity to this day." John Frederick Suhr was born on September 19, 1936 to Fred Suhr and Mabel Erwin Suhr. He is survived by his devoted wife, Beverly Bowick Suhr; son, Adam Suhr, Houston, TX.; step-children, Cissie Clement, New Hope, PA, Cathy Hilley, Hamilton, GA, Littlejohn Bruer, Ellaville, GA, William Eric Bruer and Mark Fredrick Bruer, both of Columbus, GA; 12 grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Barbra B. Suhr of East Point, GA. There will be a celebration of John's life on Tuesday, September, September 28, 2010 at Pat's Backwater, 5237 Hwy. 219, Fortson, GA from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Columbus Hospice or to 2nd Avenue Animal Hospital. Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907