History of ABC

by Kitty O. Locker, 1995
Updated 2002

The First Year

Names

Headquarters

Publications

Dues and Members

Conventions

ABC Today

Sources

Executive Directors

2021-present Kathryn M. Rybka University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2011-2021 James M. "Jim" Dubinsky Virginia Tech
2006-2011 Betty S. Johnson Stephen F. Austin State University
1994-2006 Robert Myers Baruch College
1990-1994 John D. Pettit, Jr. University of North Texas
1984-1990 Robert D. Gieselman University of Illinois
1957-1984 Francis W. Weeks University of Illinois
1935-1957 Chester R. "Andy" Anderson University of Illinois

Past Presidents

ABC Presidents   1985 to Present

2020-2021 Geert Jacobs Ghent University
2019 Marcel Robles Eastern Kentucky University
2018 Lisa Gueldenzoph Snyder North Carolina A & T University
2017 Deborah Roebuck Kennesaw State University
2016 Bertha Du-Babcock City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2015 Peter W. Cardon University of Southern California
2014 Kathryn Rentz University of Cincinnati
2013 Nancy Schullery Western Michigan University
2012 Hiromitsu Hayashida Chuo University, Japan
2011 Gerry Hynes Sam Houston State University
2010 Deborah Valentine Emory University
2009 James M. "Jim" Dubinsky Virginia Tech
2008 Roger Conaway University of Texas at Tyler
2007 Jacqueline Harrison UNITEC Institute of Technology
2006 Marsha Bayless Stephen F. Austin State University
2005 Randy Barker Virginia Commonwealth University
2004 Linda Beamer California State University at Los Angeles
2003 Marie Flatley San Diego State University
2002 Barbara Shwom Northwestern University
2001 Iris Varner Illinois State University
2000 Lamar Reinsch Georgetown University
1999 Josephine Chargois Howard University
1998 Betty Johnson Stephen F. Austin State University
1997 David Victor Eastern Michigan University
1996 Daphne Jamison Cornell University
1995 Kitty Locker Ohio State University
1994 Jeanette Gilsdorf California State University at Long Beach
1993 Bernadine Branchaw  Western Michigan University
1992 Ray Beswick Syncrude Canada Ltd.
1991 Bob Myers Baruch College
1990 Gretchen Vik San Diego State University
1989 John Penrose San Diego State University
1988 Glen Pearce Virginia Commonwealth University
1987 David Bateman Southern Illinois University
1986 Lois Bachman Community College of Philadelphia
1985 Patricia Wells Oregon State University

ABCA Presidents   1984-1969

1984 Phillip V.  Lewis Abilene Christian University
1983 Herbert W.  Hildebrandt University of Michigan
1982 Larry D. Hartman  Zenith Data Systems, Chicago
1981 E. Rennie Charles Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Canada
1980 Lilian O.  Feinberg Iowa State University 
1979  John D.  Pettit, Jr. North Texas State University 
1978 Lucian Spataro Ohio University
1977 Arno Knapper University of Kansas
1976 John W. Gould University of Southern California
1975 Jean Voyles Georgia State University
1974 William J. Lord, Jr. University of Texas at Austin
1973 Leland Brown Eastern Michigan University
1972 William A. Damerst Pennsylvania State University
1971 Morris  P.  Wolf University of Houston
1970 Karl M.  Murphy Georgia Institute of Technology 
1969 Richard S.  Perry Eastern Oregon University
American Business Writing Association Presidents  1968 - 1938
1968 Michael Porte University of Cincinnati 
1967 Robert D. Hay University of Arkankas
1966  Homer Cox University of Colorado
1965  Virgil Harder Washington University 
1964 Norman B. Sigband DePaul University
1963 Dorothea Chandler Syracuse University
1962 Frank Devlin John Carroll University
1961 Raymond V. Lesikar Louisiana State University
1960 Doris Sponseller Ohio University
1959 E. Glenn Griffin Purdue University
1958 Erwin M.  Keithley University of California, Los Angeles
1957 R. C.  Gerfen Northwestern University
1956 K. B.  Horning University of Oklahoma
1955 Sally B.  Maybury University of Vermont
1954 C. W.  Wilkenson Michigan State University
1954 John Ball Miami University
1953 Lyda McHenry Chamberlin Wayne State University
1951 J. H.  Menning University of Alabama
1950 J. H. Menning University of Alabama (served 2 years when changing to calendar year)
1949 J. H. Janis New York University
1948 A. L.  Cosgrove University of Oklahoma
1947 C. C.  Parkhurst Boston University
1946 L. W.  McKelvey Northwestern University
1943-1945  W. H.  Butterfield  University of Oklahoma (served 3 years during WWII)
1942 Roy Davis Boston University
1941 Alta Gwinn Saunders University of Illinois 
1940 W. P.  Boyd University of Texas
1939 R. R.  Aurner University of Wisconsin
1938 E. J.  Kilduff New York University
1937 C. R. "Chesty" Anderson (chairman) University of Illinois
The Association of College Teachers of Business Writing  Chairman  1936 
1936  C. R. "Chesty" Anderson  University of Illinois