In Memoriam: Edgar Cullman Sr.

Late last night, Michael Herklots announced that Edgar Cullman Sr. had passed away at the age of 93.

His biography reads:

Edgar M. Cullman, Sr. has had a long and distinguished career as the chief executive of General Cigar and Culbro Corporation, the parent company of General Cigar during the 1970s-1990s.

During the nearly 45 years he ran the company, he grew it into the largest premium cigar manufacturer and marketer in the United States. Over the years, the company introduced popular brands like the Tiparillo and its famous ad campaign “Should a gentleman offer a lady a Tiparillo?”, White Owl, William Penn, Robert Burns, Garcia y Vega, and later Macanudo, which became the number one premium cigar in the United States. Mr. Cullman was personally responsible for the decision to launch the Macanudo brand and was very involved in developing its unique blend.

Over the years, Mr. Cullman grew the company organically and through acquisition. He also acquired Cuban brands such as Partagas, Punch, and, before he left General Cigar, the Cohiba brand. During the difficult years of the mid-70s, he diversified into snack food, publishing, packaging and labeling systems, wholesale distribution, laxatives, real estate and financial services.

In addition, Cullman is credited with major mergers including the acquisition of Villazon in the 1990s, the creation of the Macanaduo brand, Club Macanaduo and General Cigar’s infamous tobacco library.

At the beginning of the boom, Cullman gave a lengthy interview with Marvin Shanken, which can be read here.

In 1999 Swedish Match began buying parts of General Cigar Co., culminating most recently with its merger with Scandinavian Tobacco Group forming STG Group last year.

Steve Saka, President of Drew Estate wrote the following on Facebook:

The world has lost yet another cigar luminary, Edgar Cullman Sr., former CEO of General Cigar and Culbro, at age 94. He was extremely passionate about tobacco and cigars, always willing to offered insightful wisdom and was someone I admired greatly. My condolences to the family for their loss. May he rest in peace.

(Image via Stamford Advocate)