Louis F. Bantle
Encyclopedia
Louis Francis Bantle was an American business executive who led UST Inc.
and its U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
subsidiary, overseeing a dramatic rise in the popularity of its Copenhagen and Skoal brands of dipping tobacco
, as well as introducing versions of its tobacco products such as Skoal Bandits that became popular with young adult males in the United States taking 80% of the country's market for chewing tobacco
.
Bantle was born on November 22, 1928, in Bridgeport, Connecticut
to Louis A. Bantle, who served as U.S. Tobacco's chairman and chief executive until his retirement in 1972. He attended Syracuse University
, graduating from its Martin J. Whitman School of Management
in 1951 before serving as a captain in the United States Marine Corps
during the Korean War
.
In 1962, Bantle joined his father at U.S. Tobacco, where he was hired as advertising manager. As chairman of U.S. Tobacco starting in 1973, Bantle oversaw the expansion of the market for its products from a niche product largely sold in the upper Midwestern states, introducing products such as Skoal Bandits that appealed more broadly to a younger market, telling fellow executives at a marketing meeting in 1968 that "we must sell the use of tobacco in the mouth and appeal to young people". The requirement to add cancer warnings to its products and the oral cancer
death of a teenager leading to an unsuccessful lawsuit against the company in 1986 slowed growth of the company's products. In June 1985, in a move "which came as a surprise to some analysts", Bantle selected former Miami Dolphins
linebacker Nick Buoniconti
to replace him as president and chief operating officer of the company, with Bantle retaining his role as chairman. By 1991, the Centers for Disease Control reported that 9% of American males between the ages of 18 and 24 had been regular users of smokeless tobacco, triple the rate of use in 1970 for that market. During his 20 years as chairman before his retirement as chairman and CEO in 1993, U.S. Tobacco's sales rose tenfold to $1 billion and the company was included in the Fortune 500
starting in 1985. In subsequent years, the company changed its name to the initials UST and was purchased in 2008 by Altria, the owner of the Philip Morris Companies brands of cigarettes.
Bantle founded the International Institute for Alcohol Education and Training, and its House of Hope center in St. Petersburg, Russia
, which were created to spread the Alcoholics Anonymous
treatment regime in the former Soviet Union. Through Buoniconti, Bantle became involved with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
, which had been created in 1985 after Buoniconti's son was paralyzed while playing college football. Bantle served on the boards of his alma mater Syracuse University, as well as the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, the National Legal Center for the Public Interest
and of the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science
, in addition to other philanthropic and alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs.
A resident of Greenwich, Connecticut
and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
, Bantle died in Greenwich at the age of 81 on October 10, 2010, of lung cancer
and emphysema
. He was survived by his wife, Virginia, as well as by a daughter and four grandchildren.
UST Inc.
UST Inc. was a holding company whose subsidiaries included U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and International Wine & Spirits Ltd., which in turn is a holding company of Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, a vintner of premium wines. On January 6, 2009 UST Inc. was purchased by Altria.UST was founded...
and its U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company manufactures dipping tobacco and is a subsidiary of Altria.Its corporate headquarters are located in Stamford, Connecticut, and it maintains factories in Clarksville and Nashville, Tennessee, Franklin Park, Illinois, and Hopkinsville, Kentucky.Copenhagen and Skoal...
subsidiary, overseeing a dramatic rise in the popularity of its Copenhagen and Skoal brands of dipping tobacco
Dipping tobacco
Dipping tobacco, traditionally referred to as moist snuff, is a type of finely ground or shredded, moistened smokeless tobacco product. It is commonly and idiomatically known by various terms – most often as dip and sometimes rub or chew...
, as well as introducing versions of its tobacco products such as Skoal Bandits that became popular with young adult males in the United States taking 80% of the country's market for chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco (also known colloquially as hoobastank, backy, tobac, doogooos,Hogleg, chewpoos, chits, chewsky, chawsky, dip, flab, chowers, guy, or a wad, as well as referred to as dipsky, snuff, a pinch, a yopper, a Packing a bomb, a tobbackey or packing a...
.
Bantle was born on November 22, 1928, in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
to Louis A. Bantle, who served as U.S. Tobacco's chairman and chief executive until his retirement in 1972. He attended Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, graduating from its Martin J. Whitman School of Management
Martin J. Whitman School of Management
The Martin J. Whitman School of Management is the business school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Named after Martin J. Whitman, an alumnus and benefactor of the school, the school was established in 1919...
in 1951 before serving as a captain in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
In 1962, Bantle joined his father at U.S. Tobacco, where he was hired as advertising manager. As chairman of U.S. Tobacco starting in 1973, Bantle oversaw the expansion of the market for its products from a niche product largely sold in the upper Midwestern states, introducing products such as Skoal Bandits that appealed more broadly to a younger market, telling fellow executives at a marketing meeting in 1968 that "we must sell the use of tobacco in the mouth and appeal to young people". The requirement to add cancer warnings to its products and the oral cancer
Oral cancer
Oral cancer is a subtype of head and neck cancer, is any cancerous tissue growth located in the oral cavity. It may arise as a primary lesion originating in any of the oral tissues, by metastasis from a distant site of origin, or by extension from a neighboring anatomic structure, such as the...
death of a teenager leading to an unsuccessful lawsuit against the company in 1986 slowed growth of the company's products. In June 1985, in a move "which came as a surprise to some analysts", Bantle selected former Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker Nick Buoniconti
Nick Buoniconti
Nicholas Anthony Buoniconti is a former American Football League and NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker, who played for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins....
to replace him as president and chief operating officer of the company, with Bantle retaining his role as chairman. By 1991, the Centers for Disease Control reported that 9% of American males between the ages of 18 and 24 had been regular users of smokeless tobacco, triple the rate of use in 1970 for that market. During his 20 years as chairman before his retirement as chairman and CEO in 1993, U.S. Tobacco's sales rose tenfold to $1 billion and the company was included in the Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
starting in 1985. In subsequent years, the company changed its name to the initials UST and was purchased in 2008 by Altria, the owner of the Philip Morris Companies brands of cigarettes.
Bantle founded the International Institute for Alcohol Education and Training, and its House of Hope center in St. Petersburg, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, which were created to spread the Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
treatment regime in the former Soviet Union. Through Buoniconti, Bantle became involved with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Infobox non-profit| name = Miami Project to Cure Paralysis| image =| type = medical| founded_date = 1985| tax_id =| registration_id =| founder = Nick Buoniconti & Barth A. Green, M.D....
, which had been created in 1985 after Buoniconti's son was paralyzed while playing college football. Bantle served on the boards of his alma mater Syracuse University, as well as the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, the National Legal Center for the Public Interest
AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest
AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest was formed when the National Legal Center for the Public Interest was merged into the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute in September 2007...
and of the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science
Bruce Museum of Arts and Science
The Bruce Museum of Arts and Science is a small institution in downtown Greenwich, Connecticut with both art and science exhibition space. "The Bruce," as it's more familiarly known, has holdings of about 15,000 objects, including fine art, decorative art, natural history and anthropology.A second...
, in addition to other philanthropic and alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs.
A resident of Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
, Bantle died in Greenwich at the age of 81 on October 10, 2010, of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
. He was survived by his wife, Virginia, as well as by a daughter and four grandchildren.