Orville Redenbacher Dead At 88 -- Popcorn Pitchman Was Also A Scientist

CORONADO, Calif. - Orville Redenbacher, who parlayed agricultural expertise into a multimillion-dollar popcorn brand, was found dead in his apartment today. He was 88.

The cause and time of death were under investigation.

Mr. Redenbacher, known for his trademark bow tie, was more than a TV advertising spokesman: First he was an agribusinessman and scientist. He estimated he cross-bred 30,000 hybrids over 40 years before coming up with his "gourmet" corn.

A native of Indiana, Mr. Redenbacher graduated from Purdue University in 1928 with degrees in agronomy and plant genetics. He collaborated with university researchers on hybrids, worked at various agricultural jobs and in 1943 organized and managed a 12,000-acre popcorn farm.

Redenbacher teamed with Charles Bowman and bought Chester Inc., an agricultural company in Valparaiso, Ind. He sold "the very first gourmet popping corn" himself, traveling by car across the country.

In the 1970s, an advertising agency decided to make the folksy Redenbacher the focus of ads.

The Orville Redenbacher brand name was sold in the mid-1970s, but he continued doing the ads. Redenbacher and his wife, Nina, moved to the San Diego area. She died in 1991.

At Purdue, he played in the marching band. He joked: "That's where I learned to toot my own horn."

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