Jack Millar: John J. Millar, better known as Capt Jack Millar, who has died aged 88, was chief press officer for Aer Lingus from 1960 to 1981. One of the best-known and respected public relations practitioners of his time, his career was almost equally divided between the Army and the national airline.
Born in 1917 in Strabane, Co Tyrone, he was the oldest of eight children, four boys and four girls, born to Robert and Bridget Millar who operated a local coal merchant business.
Educated at St Columb's College, Derry, he joined the Army in 1939 at the outbreak of the second World War. As a young man his photograph was used in Army recruitment advertising campaigns. He rapidly rose to the rank of captain, and became aide-de-camp to Maj Gen Hugo McNeill (Officer Commanding) at eastern command.
He took a prominent part in the celebrated manoeuvres on the River Blackwater in 1942 and later joined Army intelligence at McKee Barracks. He joined the press office, editing the magazine An Cosantóir and serving there until he left the Army in 1960 to go to Aer Lingus.
His two decades at the airline coincided with expansion into jet aircraft on both European and north Atlantic routes. Traffic grew rapidly prior to the outbreak of the Northern Troubles, which led to a sharp decline. This was cushioned by the success of the ancillary activities programme which allowed the group to stay profitable well into the 1980s.
The press office at Aer Lingus handled visits by celebrities such as president Charles de Gaulle, President John F. Kennedy and Pope John Paul 11. Along with other semi-State PR officials he was seconded for some time to the government information bureau to help propagate government policy.
A founder member of the Public Relations Institute, Jack Millar strove to set standards for young people entering the profession. An elegant writer himself he was a stickler for syntax and the sight of a split infinitive could bring out his best Northern "Ooh-aah-aaye!" Reading a sloppy comment about airfares in the morning papers sent him in a frenzy to the typewriter. The response, short and to the point, would be delivered to the offending editor's office by courier that afternoon.
He had prodigious energy and could stay working when all but he and his staff had long gone home - so much so that young arrivals to the press office wondered if they had joined the Army rather than an airline. But they stayed and respected him as did his peers in the company's management.
His principal relaxation after his family was salmon and trout fishing and he took a keen interest in promoting fishing holidays to Ireland, especially from the Continent. He lobbied strongly against all forms of pollution to our rivers and lakes.
Former chief executive of Aer Lingus David Kennedy remembers him as a man with stern commitment and loyalty. "He gave the job 100 per cent. He had great pride in the national airline and was never afraid to say it."
He is survived by his wife, Annie, whom he married in 1945; sons Kieran, Niall, Declan and Hugh; daughters Deirdre, Gráinne and Nola (deceased); and 24 grandchildren.
Capt Jack Millar, born March 4th, 1917; died May 6th, 2005