Emerson's Life

Early years

Emerson A. Foote was born on December 13, 1906 in sheffield, Alabama, the son of James and Ruth Foote. He spent most of his youth in California. In 1922, he graduated from Los Angeles high school. In 1924, Foote entered the University of Southern California but his first semester, winter 1924, was also be his last.

According to FooteÍs unpublished biography (1985), he planned to begin college in the winter of 1924, but prior to that time he decided to look for a job to get some experience. with the help of a neighbor, he obtained his first job in a fine stationary store in downtown Los Angeles during the Christmas holidays. His first job was as a wrapping clerk, for which he had no experience. This was a good job for Foote since he did not have to speak very much with customers. From his early boyhood, he had a very bad speech impediment. In fact, when reporting for his first job, he had difficulty telling the manager that his name was Emerson. He got stuck on the "E." Foote started as a junior teller, handling with drawls which included opening piggy banks and counting the contents. he did so well that he was promised a position with the company after college and was encouraged to think of this as a lifetime job.

After San Francisco-area jobs with the J.L. Green Company, Pacific Mutual Life Insurance, and the H.O. Harrison Company, Foote became inspired with the field of advertising. A friend of his from Greer-Robbins introduced him to Sabina Fromhold, which led to dinner and dancing at the Palace Hotel Palm Court. During the evening, Sabina, copywriter for a Cincinnati said to Emerson agency, "I think you ought to go into advertising. I think you would be a good account executive."

Sabina

Sabina Fromhold, his wife, was in advertising, as a copywriter with H.&S. Polkcompany in Cincinnati. Emerson Foote met her on May, 1929 and three days later he proposed. They did not get married for 9 years because of the Depression. She encouraged Foote to get into advertising business himself.

Blue Story

Foote was taken out to Wetchester Hospital in early 1950's. Foote's mental illness started developing during the period he was considering resigning the American Tobacco account. He spent long hours on the job and basically overextended.

According to him, " I was a manic depressive. Most of my trouble came from the manic phase. I struggled on with psychiatrists for a long time had a couple of hospital experiences. This series of illness is what cost me my position and my stock holding in Foote, Cone & Belding. It did not cause me any trouble at McCann-Erickson..."

Emerson Foote, 85, advertising leader, died in July 1992.

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