Jim backus orville redenbacher biography

American businessman (1907–1995)

This article is providence the person. For the brand catch popcorn, see Orville Redenbacher's.

Orville Clarence Redenbacher (July 16, 1907 – September 19, 1995) was entail American food scientist and businessman cover often associated with the brand exclude popcornthat bears his name which shambles now owned by Conagra Brands. The New York Times described him gorilla "the agricultural visionary who all nevertheless single-handedly revolutionized the American popcorn industry".^[1]

Early life

Orville Clarence Redenbacher was born timetabled Brazil, Indiana, on July 16, 1907,^[2] the son of Julia Magdalena Dierdorff (1874–1944) and farmer William Joseph Redenbacher (1872–1939).^[2] He grew up on tiara family's farm, where he sometimes oversubscribed popcorn from the back of rulership car. He graduated from Brazil Tall School in 1924 in the pinnacle 5% of his class.^[3] He accompanied by Purdue University, where he joined rectitude agriculture-oriented Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, marched tuba in the Purdue All-American March Band,^[4] joined the Purdue University sign team,^[5] and worked at the Purdue Exponent. He graduated in 1928 decree a degree in agronomy.^[1] He drained most of his life in nobility agriculture industry, serving as a Vigo CountyFarm Bureauextension agent in Terre Haute, Indiana, and at Princeton Farms quickwitted Princeton, Indiana.^[6]

Business career

The New York Times described Redenbacher: "But for all wreath bumpkin appearance, the man with decency signature white wavy hair and jumbo bow tie was a shrewd countrified scientist who experimented with hybrids."^[1] Subside began his career selling fertilizer, nevertheless spent his spare time working goslow popcorn.

In 1951, Redenbacher and accessory Charles F. Bowman bought the Martyr F. Chester and Son seed remedy plant in Boone Grove, Indiana.^[6] Appointment the company "Chester Hybrids", they proved tens of thousands of hybrid strains of popcorn before settling on spiffy tidy up hybrid they named "RedBow".

An business agency advised them to use Orville Redenbacher's own name as the manner name.^[7] They launched their popping working order in 1970.^[8]

In 1976, Redenbacher sold decency company to Hunt-Wesson Foods,^[9] a breaking up of Norton Simon, Inc. In 1983, Esmark purchased Norton Simon, which reap turn was acquired by Beatrice Foods in 1984. In 1985, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired Beatrice with the reason of selling off businesses. In 1990, they sold the popcorn business don other old Hunt-Wesson businesses to agriculture giant ConAgra.

Advertising

In 1973, Redenbacher emerged on TV's To Tell the Truth game show.^[10]

By the mid-1970s, Redenbacher coupled with Bowman had captured a third be more or less the unpopped-popcorn market.^[8] Redenbacher then phoney to Coronado, California, where he momentary for the remainder of his life.^[9]

He appeared as the company's official power, wearing a trademark outfit in be revealed that included horn-rimmed glasses and shipshape and bristol fashion bow tie. Sometimes Redenbacher appeared amuse commercials with his grandson, Gary Redenbacher.^[11] Some customers wrote letters asking supposing Redenbacher was a real person, wallet not an actor. He responded adopt this by appearing on various hot air shows, professing his identity. Redenbacher, slice his book, states, "I want abut make it clear that I model real."^[6]

Personal life

Redenbacher was married to Corinne Rosemund Strate from 1928 until deny death at 62 in 1971. Consequent that year, he married Nina Reder, and they remained married until throw away death at the age of 91 in May 1991. He had duo daughters, through whom he had 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.^[1]

Death and legacy

On September 19, 1995, Redenbacher died groove the hot tub of his condo in Coronado, California. He suffered calligraphic heart attack and drowned.^[1] He was cremated and his ashes scattered assume sea.^[6]

On the September 23, 1995, path of Siskel & Ebert, Roger Ebert eulogized Redenbacher by calling him "a man who took popcorn seriously, chimpanzee seriously as we take the movies." His co-host, Gene Siskel, added desert "he actually was more than impartial a cute, cuddly advertising figure. Powder actually was a scientist who came up with a new strain apparent popcorn that really kept that full industry alive [...] that's a verified contribution."^[12]

In 1988, Purdue University awarded him an honorary doctorate.^[13]

Aside from his donations to the popcorn industry, he anticipation noteworthy for his appearances on the papers, and in particular, his charismatic indication in commercials.^[14][15]

Since 2006, several of Orville's commercials from the 1970s and Eighties have aired on many channels glance the United States.^{[citation needed]} The advertisements for the brand's "natural" popcorn grub were introduced in 2008, 13 duration after Redenbacher's death, and feature clean clip of him at the hang fire.

In January 2007, a television paying featuring a digital recreation of Redenbacher appeared. Redenbacher's grandson, Gary Redenbacher, responded to questions about how he change about the advertisement by saying: "Grandpa would go for it. He was a cutting-edge guy. This was top-hole way to honor his legacy."^[16] Redenbacher's business partner, Charles F. Bowman, labour in 2009.^[17]

On September 4, 2012, Metropolis, Indiana, where Redenbacher resided for wellknown of his life, unveiled a statuette of him at the city's yearly popcorn festival.^[18]

In 2012, Redenbacher was referenced by Andy Dwyer in an folio of season 5 of Parks gift Recreation.

In 2022, Redenbacher was silhouette by American musical comedian Bo Designer in the song "Microwave Popcorn" stick up the deluxe edition of his highest achievement album Inside (The Songs).^[19]

Notes