Frank Perdue was a Maryland farmer who revolutionized the American poultry industry with the introduction of his brand-name chickens, transforming a backyard egg business into one of the nation's largest food companies.
The first hands-on CEO to become famous as a company advertising spokesperson, he appeared in approximately 200 television commercials, in addition to radio and print ads, between 1971 and 1994, until his son, James "Jim" Perdue, chairman of the board of Perdue Farms, took over the role. Frank Perdue's stubborn commitment to product quality led to the creation of one of modern advertising's most memorable lines, "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken."
Frank Perdue attributed his success to determination, hard work, honest dealings, innovative marketing and, perhaps most importantly, an obsession with quality.