Perdue, Frank

Perdue, (Franklin Parsons) Frank

(1920– ) food executive; born in Salisbury, Md. He left college to join his father's chicken farm in Salisbury, Md., in 1939, succeeding him as president (1952) and transforming Perdue Farms into one of the country's largest poultry processors. In 1971 he revolutionized chicken merchandising by labeling what had previously been an anonymous product and by starring in an extensive national advertising campaign. He retired as CEO in 1988.