Jay Shucart, president of distributor Advertising Premium Sales, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri, passed away on May 2 after an illness. He was 73.

Shucart joined the family business, founded by his father in 1962, after graduating from Southeast Missouri State University in 1970, and became president upon his father’s passing. Shucart’s son, Mathew, will now take the helm at the third-generation distributor.

An active volunteer leader at Promotional Products Association of the Midwest (PPAM) for many years, Shucart served as an officer and also as president. He was also a longtime PPAI member and his friends say he never missed a PPAI Expo.

“I have many memories of Jay, his contagious smile, his down-to-earth take on the industry and his ability to cut through the small stuff. I will always remember him as a friend, a confidant, a mentor to many and one of the good guys,” says Margie Price, MAS, former owner of Premiums Plus, Inc. and a long-time friend. “He carried the banner of PPAM and PPAI. I will miss him but am grateful to have known him and for getting to know the family—the Shucarts are dear to me.”

Chuck Pecher, president of Skinner & Kennedy in St. Louis, remembers Shucart as a great guy and someone people would call for advice. “In his own quiet way, Jay was quite an influencer in our industry,” he says. “He was a wonderful mentor to a lot of people.”

Shucart is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sheila, son Matthew, daughter Heather and five grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at noon CT on May 5, 2021, and will be viewable on Zoom (limited to the first 100 viewers) at this link.

The family has requested donations to the St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer, 12951 Olive Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63141.