Laurel S. Laidlaw

Laurel S. Laidlaw Laurel S. Laidlaw, long time executive assistant at Hill and Knowlton, died on Friday, February 25th after a long illness at the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. Ms. Laidlaw was born in Port Huron, Michigan on February 24, 1959 and was a graduate of Marysville High School. After two years at community college, she took a job as a legal secretary and later served as the head secretary and office manager at an out-patient counseling center in Michigan. Laurel was an avid reader and had a passion for national and international news. She was eager to know the story behind the headlines and also whether she could make it on her own in a city where she knew no one and had no family connections. So at the age of 24, she boarded a Greyhound bus in Detroit with in her words, "four tote bags, a one-way ticket to Washington and the classified section from a recent Washington Post." She checked into a guest house that had been listed in Art Frommer's guide to Washington, a book she studied religiously (and partially memorized) during her months of planning. Her first and only job interview was with a "hot" new public relations firm in town, Gray and Company. By chance, the day before, Laurel had purchased the July 1983 issue of the Washingtonian magazine, which carried a feature on Robert Keith Gray and his new PR firm in The Power House in Georgetown. After reading it she was hooked and after interviewing her, the executives at Gray and Company were hooked on her. She stayed at the firm after it merged with Hill and Knowlton in 1986 until her death. Ms. Laidlaw worked for several Hill and Knowlton executives including former Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Gary Hymel, the firm's chief lobbyist who had been a top aide to House Speaker Tip O'Neill. However, her longest association was with Frank Mankiewicz, Vice Chairman and former Press Secretary to Bobby Kennedy, for whom she worked for 25 years. They shared a fondness for witty humor, the New York Times crossword puzzles, and the Stan Musial Society of Washington, which Mankiewicz founded and Laurel enthusiastically supported. Mankiewicz said of her, "For 25 years, at Hill and Knowlton, Laurel was much more than my administrative assistant. She was my friend. She managed my agenda and calendar with such intelligence and wit; it increased my respect for her every day. In all those 25 years, I counted myself extremely lucky to have this competent, caring person as a colleague at my side." Laurel is survived by her mother, Alice Laidlaw of Port Huron; a sister, Linda Laidlaw of Houston; a brother, Larry Laidlaw, and one nephew, Alex Laidlaw, both of Marysville. Her father, William (Ted) Laidlaw preceded her in death. The funeral will take place at the Smith Family Funeral Home, followed by burial in Lakeside Cemetery, Port Huron, Michigan - date pending. A memorial service will be held at a later time. www.smithfamilyfuneralhome.com.