REMEMBERING SKIP SAYERS

Remebering Skip Sayers

We are deeply saddened to share that Herbert “Skip” Sayers ‘49 passed away on March 3, 2022.

Skip Sayers began his Thomas Jefferson experience in 1946. Among his first achievements was becoming Chairman of Student Assembly at TJ. As Student Council President, he gained the confidence and desire to lead and to bargain with fellow students, faculty, and even his Headmaster. In college, Skip organized the Iowa State’s Fraternity Pledge Classes when he was elected the Inter-Fraternity Pledge Class President. Veishea, the largest student managed festival in the world (300,000 attendees) made Skip its Public Relations Chairman. After college and U.S. Army service, Skip went into the printing industry, where he excelled as President and CEO of the Sayers Communications Group, Inc., a $50-million commercial printer in St. Louis. Sayers Printing Company qualified for the first ISO in the printing industry. Skip’s printing expertise earned him a patent for application of scent strips for magazine inserts. He went on to give back to his industry by serving as the President of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, President of the North American Graphic Arts Council, and President of the Society of Fellows (similar to a Hall of Fame for printers). He founded The Graphic Innovators, a group of the top innovative printers from across the country. While managing these accomplishments, he also served his church as an Elder, produced and developed “BisonFest,” a fundraiser that in 16 years gave 400 students from Washington County, Missouri scholarships to go on to college, and he became active in Young Presidents Organization and Junior Achievement. Initially as a hobby, Skip started innovating in the bison industry. He later became President of the American and the National Bison Associations and introduced his vast marketing experience into a fledgling industry that was made of farmers and ranchers who knew very little about advertising. He brought new standards to the industry with posters, brochures, recipe cards, table tents, and product packaging. His nationwide catalog for bison meat won awards in the mail-order catalog industry and continues to this day. Giving back to his communities, Skip dedicated himself to improving the lives of those around him through philanthropy and church leadership. He made remarkable contributions to his industries, his family, his school, and the communities where he lived. In 1993, Skip commissioned and built Sayers Hall, which added laboratory and classroom space to Merrill Main Building on TJ’s campus.