Herman Lay
Herman Warden Lay | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 1982 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1932–1982 |
| Known for | Founder of H.W. Lay Co., Inc., Lay's potato chips, chairman and CEO of Frito-Lay |
| Notable work | Lay's potato chips |
Herman Warden Lay (March 6, 1909 – December 6, 1982) was an influential American entrepreneur who established H.W. Lay Co., Inc., which later merged into Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo. His brand, Lay's potato chips, emerged as a dominant player in the snack food industry.
Early life
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lay's family moved to South Carolina during his childhood due to his father's employment with International Harvester. He attended Furman University on an athletic scholarship for two years but departed before completing his degree.
Career
Lay’s professional journey started at Sunshine Biscuits; however, he lost his position amid the Great Depression. Subsequently, he became a traveling salesman for Barrett Food Company, distributing potato chips throughout the Southeastern United States. In 1932, using a $100 loan, he launched the H.W. Lay Distributing Company in Atlanta and progressively grew both his sales area and staff. By 1937, his workforce numbered 25 employees, and he began manufacturing his own snack products.
In September 1961, H.W. Lay & Company combined with The Frito Company to create Frito-Lay, which became the largest snack food enterprise in America. Four years later, with Lay serving as chairman and CEO of Frito-Lay and Donald M. Kendall as CEO of Pepsi-Cola, the two firms merged to form PepsiCo, Inc.
Beyond business, Lay was a philanthropist and played a key role in founding the Association of Private Enterprise Education (APEE).
Personal life
Lay was married to Sarah Amelia "Mimi" Harper, and together they had four children. He passed away at 73 years old on December 6, 1982. His son, Herman Warden Lay Jr., co-founded a Dallas-based bottling company for Pepsi and 7 Up in Mexico.
Legacy
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce honors Lay with a meeting room named after him. Furman University, where he studied, awards a scholarship in his name and has dedicated its Physical Activities Center to him. Additionally, the Lay Ornamental Garden at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden commemorates his legacy.
In recognition of his achievements, Lay received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1975.