Jack Basset

A longtime Columbus advertising executive and one of the pioneers of the consolidated government in the early 1970s has died. Jack Basset was 82.

A celebration of life will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 3, 2024 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home, 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.

“Jack passed away peacefully early Christmas morning following a massive stroke. His favorite routine was instigating political conflict among Facebook friends. Thank you for providing his entertainment and social activity,” the post read. “He will be greatly missed. Our hearts are broken.”

Basset was a member of the Columbus Jaycees, a dominant civic club that drove political and social change in the 1960s and 1970s. A Jaycee-led effort elected J.R. Allen as Columbus mayor. The Jaycees also pushed the first consolidation of city and county governments in Georgia when Muscogee County and Columbus merged its city council and county commission. Basset won a seat on the new city council.

Bill Becker and Basset formed one of Columbus’ most influential advertising agencies, Basset and Becker. The two men were business partners for 35 years. They managed some of the top advertising accounts in the city, including McDonald’s, CB&T, Tom’s Foods, and Columbus Regional. They also had a number of national accounts in their portfolio.

“Jack was a good people person,” Becker said. “He was authentic. He managed to make friends with anybody. That intuitive sense to get people to like him transferred to the product.

“He was an advertising and creative genius,” Morpeth said. “No one meant more to Country’s over the years than Jack. I will so miss doing creative and effective commercials with Jack. All of our best commercials were his creation.” But Morpeth’s relationship with Basset was so much more than the 30-second commercials.

“He lifted me up from the corner of the room to someone willing to take charge,” Morpeth said. “I learned so much from Jack about how to be a leader and how to enjoy life. He was the friend that was always there for me – he did so much more for me than I ever could do for him.”

Becker said he can remember when Basset made the decision to leave his city council post. “The amazing thing is over 35 years we never once – not once – in our relationship had a discussion, debate, or argument about money,” Becker said. “Now, we had our creative differences, but we were always able to measure each other’s work and make it a little better. There was really no need to argue because we were having too much fun.”

Morpeth says he will miss the phone calls and visits with Basset. “Will life go on? Sure, it always does but it will be different and Jack will be missed beyond measure,” Morpeth said. “ He was my confidant, my encourager, my friend willing to call it like he saw it – my best friend!”

Basset is survived by his wife of 41 years, Becky; and two children, daughter Jere Roberts of North Carolina, and son, Will, of Midland. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Columbus Hospice, 7020 Moon Rd. Columbus, GA 31909.