sws4420
04-01-2005, 12:15 PM
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SALISBURY, Md. - Frank Perdue, who transformed a backyard egg business into one of the nation’s largest poultry processors using the folksy slogan, “It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken,” has died.
He died Thursday after a brief illness, Perdue Farms Inc. said Friday. He was 84.
At the time of his death, Perdue was chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors of Perdue Farms, based in Salisbury.
His tough, folksy TV persona helped boost sales from $56 million in 1970 to more than $1.2 billion by 1991.
He had taken to the airwaves in 1971, and the company was credited with being the first to advertise chickens by brand.
Perdue turned the reins over to his son, Jim, in 1991.
SALISBURY, Md. - Frank Perdue, who transformed a backyard egg business into one of the nation’s largest poultry processors using the folksy slogan, “It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken,” has died.
He died Thursday after a brief illness, Perdue Farms Inc. said Friday. He was 84.
At the time of his death, Perdue was chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors of Perdue Farms, based in Salisbury.
His tough, folksy TV persona helped boost sales from $56 million in 1970 to more than $1.2 billion by 1991.
He had taken to the airwaves in 1971, and the company was credited with being the first to advertise chickens by brand.
Perdue turned the reins over to his son, Jim, in 1991.