Jack Guthrie

Biography

Jack Guthrie is the founder of Guthrie/Mayes Public Relations, one of the largest independently owned public relations firms in Kentucky.

A Louisville native, Jack started his public relations career with Philip Morris Inc. in New York City in 1964. He returned to Louisville in 1971 to serve as president of the Kentucky Derby Festival and currently serves as an honorary director. In 1987, Jack was one of the founding partners of the WORLDCOM Public Relations Group, the largest network of independent public relations firms in the world with offices in over 100 cities worldwide.

Guthrie served on the National Alumni Board of Directors for three terms and was named president in 1986. He continues to serve on the National Board. He has been a director of the Greater Louisville UK Alumni Club for over 30 years, serving as president in 1984. Over the years, he has served on various University and alumni committees, including the UK Development Council.

He is also a UK Fellow and served eight years as president of the UK Journalism School Alumni Association and chairman of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame. He currently serves on the UK CI Dean’s Leadership Council, the Kentucky Kernel Management Board and the UK Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. Guthrie was inducted into the University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2015 and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2018 by the College of Journalism and Media.