Tobacco Documents Online

a - - I Louis A. And Louis F. Bantle, Of U.S. Tobacco Honored By New York Tobacco Table Louis A. Bantle, president of United States Tobacco Com- pany, was honored recently as "Grandfather of the Year," and Louis F. Bantle, vice president and marketing director of the Company, as "Father of the Year," by the New York To- bacco Table at its annual Fa- ther's Day Dinner in the Ma- sonic Club in New York City. Robert, seven years old, and Terri, five, grandchildren and children, respectively, of the men receiving the honors, were applauded by the industry lead- ers attending when they were introduced by Jerome Feinberg, vice president of Eagle Univer- sal Displays, Inc., who presided., Robert and Terri were seated in front of the dais with their mother, Mrs. Gini Bantle, and grandmother, Mrs. Marie Ban- tle. In presenting a scroll of honor signifying "Grandfather of the Year," Jerry Nagler, di- rector of the Pipe and Tobacco Council of America, praised Mr. Bantle as an outstanding leader of the industry, "a truly fine gentleman, a great man who has been like a father to me." Mr. Nagler mentioned Mr. Bantle's induction into the Hall of Fame of the Tobacco Indus- try at the recent convention of the National Association of To- bacco Distributors in Miami Beach, Florida; and presenta- tion of a "Scroll of Honor" to him during March at the annual testimonial dinner of the To- bacco and Allied Trades Divi- sion of the United Jewish Ap- peal of Greater New York for his "devotion to and support of UJA ideals of community serv- ices and human advancement." The "Father of the Year" aa- f'r. if lute was presented to Louis F. Bantle by Herbert Berger, pres- ident of Barney's Stores, Inc. Mr. Berger noted Mr. Ban- tle's years of leadership in the Young Executives Division of the National Association of To- bacco Distributors, and of his being designated Young Execu- tive of the Year-winner of the Kolodny Young Executives Achievement Award-in 1966. In expressing his apprecia- tion of the "Grandfather of the Year" recognition by members of the Table, Mr. Bantle re- ferred with a pleasant nostalgic touch to his experiences more than three decades ago, when he was what he described as a ped- dler of tobacco products in the New York area. He mentioned his early days of membership in the New York Tobacco Table and how that experience had been a factor in the formation • Presentation of scrolls at the New York Tobacco Table's Father of the Year dlnner, which honored Louis A. Bantle, president of United States Tobacco Company, as "Grandfather of the Year," and Louis F. Bantle, vice preiident and marketing director of the Company, as "Father of the Year," it shown abooe. They are (L to r.) Louis F. Bantle. Herbert Berger, prxaident of Bar- ne)rs Stores, Inc.; Jerome Feinberg. vice president of Eagle Universal Die- plays, Inc., who presided; Jerry Nagler, director of the Pipe and Tobacco Council of America, and Louis A. Bantle. • Three generations of the Bantle family are shown at le)t at the annual Father of the Year dinner nJ the New York To- bacco Table.at which Louis A. Bantle. president of United States Tobacco Com- pany, was honored as "Grand/ather o/ theYear," and Louis F. Bantle. vice presi- dent and marketing director o/ the Com- pany, as "Father of the Year." They are (1. to r., standing) Louis F. Bantle, Mrs. Gini Bantle. Mrs. Marie Bantle, and Louis A. Bantle. Terri and Bobert, children of Mr. and Mrs. Louis F. Ban- tle, are in the /ore- ground. They are holding presents pre. sented to them by Tom Bennis. treas- urer o/ the New York Tobacco Table. of the San Francisco Tobacco Table, of which he was one of the founding members. Mr. Bantle joined United States Tobacco Company in 1929 as a salesman and ad- vanced during the next ten years to department sales man- ager for the Northeastern states. In 1942, he was named head of the Company's opera- tions on the West Coast. He was elected a director and vice pres- ident in 1945, and two years later was called to the executive offices in New York City as vice president in charge of advertis- ing. His responsibilities were enlarged the following year to include sales as well as adver- tising. Since he was elected presi- dent of United States Tobacco Company in 1959, Mr. Bantle has directed expansion of the Company within and outside of the tobacco industry. This has been attained through acquisi- tions, new products, strengthen- ing of marketing operations, b¢vadeafng aad reslIgnament of the executive staff and other developments. The Company's sales have more than doubled and the dividend rate has been raised five times since 1959; earnings have increased steadily during each of the last nine years. He lives with Mrs. Bantle in Larchmont, New York. Louis F. Bantle joined the Company in 1962 after being an account executive for Donahue & Coe advertising agency. He was named vice president in charge of marketing and elected to the Board of Directors in 1967. A graduate of Syracuse Uni- versity, Mr. Bantle served as an officer in the U. S. Marine Corps in Korea. He was secre- tary of the Young Executives Division of NATD for several terms. Lorillard Test Markets Kent Menthol Lorillard is testing Kent men- thol cigarettes in two major American markets, it was an- nounced by A. J. Bass, Jr., Vice President of Sales. The new brand, Kent Menthol 100's, contains the famed Micro- nite filter which was responsible for Kent's great success when the cigarette was introduced to the public in 1952 "We are marketing a Kent menthol because Lorillard's re- search shows that the menthol market has been steadily ex- panding," Bass said. "In 1965, 18.6 per cent of the smokers smoked menthol cigarettes. To- day, more than 22 per cent are menthol smokers-a 20 per cent gain in four years. More import- ant, many new smokers are starting with menthol and the balance of growth of the men, thol market comes from current smokers switching to nventhols." Lorillard is introducing Kent Menthol in the 100 millimeter size because the 100mm market is also increasing. In 1965, there were no 100's. Today, more than 31 per cent of the menthol smok- ing population smokes 100's. Mr. Bass explained that with Kent Menthol 100's, a smoker is now offered a cigarette that com- bines a mild taste with the fa- mous Micronite filter. The advertising copy line for the new cigarette announces: "Wow! Kent got it all together! All the refreshment of menthol. All the good things of a Kent." . 8 The Retail Tobacconist