A longtime symbol of advertising excellence in the Richmond area was presented for the last time at this year’s Richmond Show, but not before The Martin Agency walked off with a bunch of the heaviest ones, states Richmond BizSense.

Richmond BizSense reports that more than 60 of the “coveted cannonball trophies that for years have been doled out at the annual awards show were presented Thursday evening, (June 3) via a virtual event that featured a pre-recorded program. Martin was the big winner of the night, taking three of this year’s best-in-show awards.

“But this year’s cannonballs are now collector’s items, as the Advertising Club of Richmond, which puts on the awards, decided to do away with the design due to a connection to Richmond’s Confederate history.

“Club President Vera Magdeeva, whose one-year term concluded with Thursday’s event, said the cannonball design was introduced 30 years ago when the awards were held at Tredegar Iron Works, a major supplier of cannonballs and other artillery for the Confederate Army during the Civil War.”

This year’s awards, recognizing work in 2020, were presented in categories including advertising, design, interactive, production and student campaigns.

More here.

Photo: On Three Photography