Orville Redenbacher

Orville Redenbacher (1907-1995) is most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in agronomy and spent most of his life as a farmer and working in the agriculture industry. He earned a small fortune in fertilizers. In his spare time, he bred corn and developed several hybrid strands of corn designed to be eaten as popcorn. He later sold the company, which was, in turn, sold to the agribusiness giant ConAgra. However, he appeared in numerous television commercials, sometimes with his grandson, always wearing his trademark bowtie. In 1995, while in the bathtub, Redenbacher suffered a heart attack and drowned. His brand of popcorn continues to be among the most popular in the United States.