Monroe Colvett, smiling photographer
Monroe Colvett died Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. He was born April 18, 1929, in a sharecropper’s house behind a cotton field in the town of Bells, in western Tennessee. He is the son of the late Delbert Colvett and Morine Faulkner Colvett. After the sudden death of his father, both he and his mother worked in the farm fields hoeing and picking cotton and strawberries to survive. He graduated from Memphis Technical High School in 1947 and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in English literature and journalism from Memphis University in 1952. He served in both the Ready Reserves and as a sergeant in the Army 101st Airborne Division during the Korean War at Fort Jackson, S.C., serving as chief of the News Division of Public Information. He received the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. After separation from the army, he returned to Memphis and became editor of The Daily News and The Cotton Journal in Memphis. Monroe became managing editor of Livestock Magazine, assistant news editor of the Tuscaloosa News and editor of International Cotton Magazine.
In 1959, he moved to New York and joined Shell Chemical Company’s Agricultural Division as advertising manager and creative director. In 1969, he joined Bozell and Jacobs as vice president, creative director and general manager. In 1982, he married Jamie, his wife of 43 years. After 20-plus years in New York City, they moved to Keene, N.H., started their own advertising business, Colvett & Colvett, and enjoyed years of traveling around the country together interviewing and photographing farm owners for their clients. These articles and photos appeared in over 200 agricultural publications. They specialized in farm industrial/commercial public relations and advertising. The spectrum of their work spanned the United States and several foreign countries as well.
Thirteen years later, they retired and move to Milton. Monroe and Jamie knew the area because Jamie’s great-aunt lived in Milford and while visiting the area they decided it was just right for them. In 1994, Monroe and Jamie built their first home in Pondview Estates in Milton. Despite retiring, they continued with their photography, advertising and public relations skills here in Sussex County. Some of their clients were County Life Homes, Plantations, Besche Furniture, Brooks and Palmer Custom Homes Inc., Stuart Kingston, Leisure Point, and ILC Dover Inc. In 2000 after Jamie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, they built and moved to their present home in Sylvan Acres in Milton, where Monroe continued with his photography and volunteerism.
Monroe was always happy to volunteer his time and talent. Some of the organizations included Habitat for Humanity, Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Milton, Rainbow Thrift Shop in Milton, Milton Library, St. George’s Chapel in Harbeson, St. George’s Thrift Shop in Millsboro, All Saints Episcopal Church in Rehoboth, National MS Society and the MS Foundation. For 21 years, Monroe was captain of the MS Walk team, Zoom-Zooms, which has raised over $365,000 to help with the devastating effects of Multiple Sclerosis.
During his lifetime, Monroe received many awards, including two Telly Awards for the creation of outstanding television commercials, and several International Film and Television awards for his creative work. Monroe also received the Norman Cohn Hope Award for his work with The National MS Society.
Monroe was also proud to have over 70 weather photos published in the Cape Gazette in the Community Photo Showcase.
Service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 15, at St. George’s Chapel, 20332 Beaver Dam Rd., Harbeson.
Donations can be made in Monroe’s memory to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6520 N. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309.
