Hormel, George A.

Hormel, George A. (Albert) (1860–1946) meatpacker; born in Buffalo, N.Y. After working in various jobs throughout the midwest, he settled in Austin, Minn., where he opened a butchers and meat packers partnership (1887). That dissolved and in 1891 he opened George A. Hormel and Company. His meat packing business not only flourished but he was among the leaders in the U.S.A. in providing better wages and hours for his workers. In 1927 he retired to Bel Air, Calif., turning the company over to his son Jay Catherwood Hormel (1892–1954), who brought about significant innovations in products, introducing canned ham, beef stew, and in 1937, "Spam."