Raymond T. Ryan Led Welch's, Played Key Role in Grape Industry

Concord, MA, January 1, 2002

Raymond T. Ryan, who played a key role in the formation of the National Grape Cooperative Association and later served as president of Welch's, died July 4 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 98.

Ryan was employed by Jack Kaplan in 1945 when, at Kaplan's behest, several small grape cooperatives joined together to purchase Kaplan's own National Grape Corporation. The ensuing National Grape Co-operative Association, Inc. purchased The Welch Grape Juice Company in 1953. Today, Welch's is the world's largest manufacturer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products, with annual sales approaching $700 million. Ryan would eventually serve as president of Welch's, from 1964-69, during which time the company's sales increased by 21% to more than $70 million.

Daniel P. Dillon, Welch's current president and chief executive officer, described Ryan as a consummate professional and strong leader. "Not only did Ray help facilitate National's purchase of Welch's in the '50s, he also made a significant contribution toward strengthening the Welch's brand in the '60s," noted Dillon. "His impact on our business was a very positive one, and we at Welch's and National are deeply saddened by his passing. Welch's could not have achieved the success we have been able to achieve if Ray Ryan had not established the foundation. We extend our condolences to his family and many friends."

Market collapse proves pivotal
As it did with many individuals in the 1920s, the crash of the stock market in 1929 played a pivotal role in Ryan's career. Prior to the market's collapse, Ryan had met Kaplan, a successful businessman involved in a number of different ventures. Kaplan was also in the brokerage business along with his younger brother. The two sold their seats and closed the business shortly after the crash, and Kaplan turned to his real estate holdings, which he had accumulated over the years. Remembering Ryan from an earlier meeting, Kaplan offered him a position managing his varied properties. Ryan accepted, beginning what proved to be a long relationship between the two men.

Ryan played active roles in the purchase of the Chautauqua and Erie Growers Association grape-processing plant in Brocton, N.Y., in 1933; in developing a close relationship with the area's grape growers; and in National's purchase of Welch's, which Kaplan had purchased from one of the grandsons of the company's founder, Thomas B. Welch, in 1945.

Welch founded the company in 1869 after developing a way to produce an "unfermented grape wine" from Concord grapes. An ardent teetotaler, Welch hoped to replace the wine, commonly offered at his church's communion service, with his new grape juice.

When Kaplan purchased The Welch Grape Juice Company in 1945, he appointed Ryan to the post of executive vice president in charge of overseeing the company's operations while also focusing on strengthening relations with the area's growers.

Two-board system established
Ryan continued in that position prior to and following the purchase of Welch's by the National Grape Co-operative Association in 1953. One of the unique features of the arrangement between National and its subsidiary was the establishment of a two-board system. The National board would oversee all matters related to the growers - membership in the cooperative, contracts, the delivery of grapes to the plants, etc. - while the Welch's board, consisting of National directors along with Welch's executives and outside directors, would run the packaged goods company and be responsible for all marketing, operations and long-range planning.

Ryan was elected to the Welch's board in 1945; in 1964 he succeeded Douglas M. Moorhead as president. During Ryan's tenure as president, the company's headquarters expanded in Westfield, N.Y.; new products, including a line of fruit spreads, prune juice, an orange drink and fruit punch, were introduced; and the world's largest grape juice storage facility, consisting of eight 317,000 gallon tanks, was constructed. When Ryan retired at the end of 1969, it marked the end of a 25-year career with Welch's and a near 40-year career in the grape business.

Raymond Thomas Ryan was born in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1901, one of seven children born to Frank James and Cecilia Howard Ryan. He graduated from Pace College in Manhattan in 1932, earning a degree in business administration and accounting. Prior to being employed by Kaplan, Ryan worked for the United Cigar Company and the New York Title and Mortgage Company.

Involved in community affairs
Ryan took an active role in community affairs. He served as president and director of Westfield Memorial Hospital and as a director of Chautauqua National Bank and the Chautauqua Region Hospital Service Corp., both based in Jamestown, N.Y. He served on the Chautauqua County Planning Board and on the Village and Town of Westfield Planning Boards. He was also a trustee of the Nutrition Foundation, Inc., based in New York City, and a director of the National Preservers Association, based in Chicago. Ryan served as president of both the Westfield Chamber of Commerce and Westfield Rotary Club.

In 1964 the alumni group at Pace College cited Ryan for "planning the phenomenal growth of his company while at the same time employing his leadership qualities on behalf of his neighbors. Mr. Ryan represents the new breed of top executive - a mixture of meticulous training and solid experience coupled with the strong desire to understand the world around him." In 1972 St. Bonaventure University honored Ryan for his "industrial, civic and charitable leadership" by conferring on him the degree of Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science. Also in the early '70s, as part of the International Executive Service Corp, Ryan went to Greece where he advised the Greek government on grape production and the wine business.

Ryan lived in Westfield, N.Y., from 1945-70. He moved to Tucson in 1970, and resided there until earlier this year when he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to live with his son. He is survived by a son, Jay, of St. Louis; a daughter, Susan DiMuro of Tucson, Arizona; nine grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

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