Chrysler PR Whiz Tom Kowaleski Dies

Tom Kowaleski, the public relations ace who arranged to have a Jeep crash through a giant window at the Detroit auto show more than 20 years ago, is dead at age 63.

He also helped organize such subsequent Chrysler PR stunts as dropping a Ram pickup truck from the ceiling of the Detroit show and staging a leapfrogging minivan during a press conference there.

The stunts made auto reporters eager to see what Chrysler would try next. They also garnered huge attention for the company beyond the usual business coverage.

Kowaleski's career included top PR positions at Renault, American Motors, Chrysler, General Motors, BMW and Lincoln. He also worked at the Dearborn, Mich.-based Campbell and Co. marketing company, and, after his stint as head of global PR for GM, did consulting through his ACTK2 company in Birmingham.

He turned 63 last month and attended media preview days at the Detroit auto show last week.