John Joseph Smith

Last Rites for a Tiger Fan

Today the world is minus one man in the stands at Mizzou and perhaps a few notes shy of that jingle you can't get out of your head. We say fare thee well to father, brother, grandfather, uncle, friend, advertising legend, and fierce Tiger fan, John Joseph Smith (Jack) who passed away on 1/27/26 in hospice care with his devoted son Chris by his side. He was nearly 88.

Along with his son Chris Smith (Lauren), he is survived by daughter Samm Smith, daughter Jackie Gundlach (Erik), grandchildren Josie, Maverik, and Lennox, sister Diane Smith Cochran, many nieces and nephews, countless friends, students, colleagues, and admirers.

He is preceded through the pearly gates by his parents Mary and Loyal Smith and his baby sister Linda who is holding space for him on the heavenly dance floor for their signature jitterbug.

This advertising hall-of-famer hails from humble origins, born on March 25, 1938, in Davenport, IA. His sister Diane was born on the same day three years later when Jack would have preferred a squirt gun rather than a sister to share his birthday. Jack mostly grew up in suburban Hinsdale, IL outside of Chicago, where he and Diane played mass with Jack as priest, Diane as his lackey altar boy, and Necco wafers for communion. He became known in high school for his talent as a drummer.

His signature beat carried him through college at Mizzou where he was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the drummer for one of the hottest party bands in town. Until one day, when he noticed they were no longer getting the gigs they used to, he tracked down the new hot band. Their nemesis –The Ike and Tina Turner Revue.

His showmanship prepared him for his professional life where he was the King of the Jingle, a creative's creative, who rose to become Group President, Deputy Chief Creative Officer for Leo Burnett Company, Inc. and Leo Burnett Worldwide. His storied client presentations were said to be accompanied by the jangling of change in his pocket or the tapping of pencils on the conference table to sell many of the tunes that became cultural icons. He once sold a new song for McDonald's by rolling a piano into the presentation room and performing the song live, complete with a brandy snifter for tips. Some of his greatest hits include "Mother Country" for United Airlines, "Good Time for the Great Taste of McDonald's," "Slow Dance" for Heinz Ketchup and "Fly the Friendly Skies" for United Airlines. He changed the game by crafting an emotional connection between brands and people through music. Dedicated to family, Jack even created storytelling in his ads inspired by family, such as McDonald's "Little Man" for his son Chris.

One appreciative client summed Jack's talent up succinctly: "You have guys that can write, you have people that can visualize, you have people that can do music, you have people that can sing music. But usually, it's not all same person."

His talent and hard work earned Jack many awards and accolades, including more than 20 Clio Awards, three Cannes Lions, and in 2011 he was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame. After retirement, Jack went on to share his knowledge as a professor at his beloved University of Missouri and continued to work on campaigns for local businesses, the MU football and basketball teams as well as multiple fundraising campaigns for the university, including "For All We Call Mizzou." He was especially proud to receive University of Missouri's highest alumni honor, the Distinguished Service Award.

But fame and success aside, for Jack everything was rooted in family. No matter how busy he was, he made time to be the wittiest storyteller at the Thanksgiving table and was a tireless supporter of the several family members who followed in his footsteps into the ad game. As further evidence of his focus on family, he used his songwriting talent to write Communion songs, Graduation songs, Disneyland Daddy songs and even a birthday song to help raise the self-esteem of this very awkward 12-year-old niece who will never stop cherishing it.

In the end, Jack lost his years-long battle with a rare brain disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Jack will be laid to rest in Tiger country, on the hallowed grounds of his beloved Columbia, MO.

Services will be held Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 10:30 am at Parker Millard Funeral Home in Columbia Missouri, followed by burial in Columbia Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory, 12 East Ash Street, Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 449-4153. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.millardfamilychapels.com