51吃瓜

Kalis, whose work has taken him across the world and back, heading his own agency, and serving as chair of the largest global network of independent agencies, has experienced some remarkable moments throughout his 50 years (and counting) in advertising. 

He鈥檚 helped numerous companies build their brands, including United Airlines, Nestle, KFC, Wetzel鈥檚 Pretzels, Hormel Foods, and Starbucks Coffee. Most recently, a former client brought him in as a strategic investor for Dave鈥檚 Hot Chicken, where he is creating TV and social media advertising that has helped it grow to over 300 restaurants, and just begun international expansion.  

In 2020, he established the Murray Kalis Award for Creativity in Advertising to provide monetary gifts to advertising students judged for creative excellence. Students who demonstrate smart positioning, outstanding creative concepts, strong execution, and a 鈥渨ow鈥� factor鈥痳eceive awards for Best Single Ad, Best Campaign, and Best Portfolio. 

鈥淭he response to the Award for Creativity in Advertising has been beyond what I anticipated,鈥� Kalis said. 鈥淭he students are thrilled to express creative ideas. And the questions I get when I teach are insightful, mature, and often surprising.鈥�

鈥淢urray Kalis has charted an exciting career in advertising and shares his wealth of experience, advice, and encouragement with our students,鈥� said Dean Tracy Sulkin. 鈥淭he College 51吃瓜 appreciates the time he devotes to our classes鈥攁s well as his advocacy of creativity through the award that he established鈥攁nd we are proud to honor him with the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.鈥�   

As a student at the University of Illinois, Kalis felt fortunate to be taught by the legendary 鈥淔ather of Advertising Education鈥� Professor Charles H. Sandage. 

鈥淚 can picture him to this day. He made an impression on me that still guides my work,鈥� Kalis said. 鈥淗e discovered advertising could impart its own magic: That a great ad can do more than sell, it can add value to the product itself.鈥� 

Kalis said Sandage always approached advertising from a highly philosophical and intellectual way and encouraged critical thinking. 鈥淗e used a kind of Socratic method [of teaching].鈥� 

If students gave an incorrect answer, Sandage had a way of guiding them to the right one. 

鈥淗e would start asking you questions, and he would lead you to understand, to try to defend your position, and suddenly you realize, 鈥極h, that doesn’t make any sense,鈥欌�� Kalis said. 

After receiving his bachelor鈥檚 degree鈥攁nd thanks to the University of Illinois Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program鈥擪alis was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army where he put his civilian education in advertising to work in psychological operations.

鈥淚 had two years of active duty basically running an ad agency,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e found illustrators and writers among the draftees, and we would create leaflets to be dropped out of planes.鈥�  

Following his military service, a master鈥檚 degree in fine arts, and a college teaching position in Iowa, Murray joined ad agency Leo Burnett in Chicago. 

There, he quickly rose up from junior copywriter to creative director in an era when the ad industry resembled the glossy, high-profile lifestyles portrayed in the television series Mad Men.  

As a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Emmys judge, Kalis met Mad Men star Jon Hamm at a reception for the cast and producers.  

Kalis said they discussed the similarities of the TV show and his real-life experience in advertising, which included 鈥渕aking those pitches, dealing with clients, and having to work your way through three-martini lunches.鈥� 

Kalis鈥檚 creative career also introduced him to actor Tom Hanks. To prepare for a role as a Chicago advertising executive in the 1986 film Nothing in Common, Hanks followed Kalis around the office to get a feel for his daily routine.  

At this point in his career, Kalis says he is mainly working in social media, which is a lot different than when he first started in the business. Then, there were just three television channels that offered an opportunity to advertise. 

While media delivery options have changed over the years, Kalis said the purpose of advertising鈥攆inding solutions to consumer problems鈥攈as remained the same.  

鈥淭he media changes,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut people don鈥檛. It鈥檚 Maslow鈥檚 Hierarchy of Needs, just like when I was entering Greg Hall for the first time.鈥�

After all these years, Kalis is still full of energy and enthusiasm for the advertising industry.

鈥淚 love the biz. I love doing this stuff,鈥� Kalis said. 鈥淚 love looking at a product and figuring out how to match it with a consumer.鈥� 

Above: Murray Kalis was creative director for this Dave’s Hot Chicken ad.