Charles Scott Bridges
Encyclopedia
Charles Scott Bridges was an American corporate executive.
Bridges was born at Bridges P.O., Gloucester County, Virginia
. He was the youngest of the eleven children who grew to maturity of Thomas Francis Bridges, a farmer
, merchant
, and postmaster, and his wife Mary Otie Bartow (Hughes) Bridges. His paternal grandparents were John Alexander Bridges and Florida (Stubblefield) Bridges. His earliest known ancestor in Gloucester, Simon Stubblefield, had received a land grant
there in 1688. After Bridges' father suffered a stroke
in 1912, the family moved to the city of Norfolk
, where Bridges attended elementary school
and Maury High School. In 1922, after completing high school, Bridges shipped out as an apprentice seaman on a tramp ship
, the S.S. Schroon, and for the first time saw the Caribbean
and the Mediterranean, which he said later decided him on a career in international business
. Returning to Virginia, he attended the University of Virginia
for a year, worked for a year for a food brokerage concern, and then in 1924 became a salesman in Norfolk for Libby, McNeill, & Libby, one of the largest American producers of canned foods. He was to spend the remainder of his life in the employ of Libby's
.
In 1927 Bridges was transferred to Libby's export
department and assigned to the company's office in New Orleans. With New Orleans as a base, he spent the next four years selling Libby's products in the Caribbean and Central
and South America
. In 1932 he was assigned to Libby's corporate headquarters in Chicago. In 1938 he was named manager of the export department, and in 1943 he became corporate vice president for sales
and advertising
. He was made a director of the company in 1947, and in 1953 he became Libby's president and chief executive officer. Libby's expanded and modernized during his presidency, and he successfully fought off an attempt by outsiders to take over the company. By 1960 Libby's had 9,000 employees and annual revenues of $296 million, and ranked 154th in size among U.S. corporations.
Bridges served as an officer of the Grocery Manufacturers of America
, a trustee of the Nutrition Foundation, and a member of the boards of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, the Council on Medical and Biological Research of the University of Chicago
, and the Community Memorial General Hospital of La Grange, Illinois
. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati
in the State of Virginia.
Bridges died at his home in Hinsdale, Illinois
, on November 24, 1961. Subsequently Libby's was acquired by Nestlé
, which continued to use Libby's as a brand name for some years.
Charles Scott Bridges was married in New Orleans on August 26, 1931, to Shirley Amélie Devlin, a native of that city, who survived him until 2003. They had three children: Peter Scott (1932- ), who married Mary Jane Lee; Shirley Bartow Ann (1936- ), who married Peter Joseph Pizzo, Jr.; and Mary Elizabeth (1947- ), who married Timothy Wiggenhorn, from whom she was subsequently divorced. As of 2006 Charles Scott and Shirley (Devlin) Bridges were also survived by eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
Bridges was born at Bridges P.O., Gloucester County, Virginia
Gloucester County, Virginia
Gloucester County is within the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in the USA. Formed in 1651 in the Virginia Colony, the county was named for Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, third son of King Charles I of Great Britain. Located in the Middle Peninsula region, it...
. He was the youngest of the eleven children who grew to maturity of Thomas Francis Bridges, a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, and postmaster, and his wife Mary Otie Bartow (Hughes) Bridges. His paternal grandparents were John Alexander Bridges and Florida (Stubblefield) Bridges. His earliest known ancestor in Gloucester, Simon Stubblefield, had received a land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
there in 1688. After Bridges' father suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1912, the family moved to the city of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, where Bridges attended elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
and Maury High School. In 1922, after completing high school, Bridges shipped out as an apprentice seaman on a tramp ship
Tramp steamer
A ship engaged in the tramp trade is one which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call. As opposed to freight liners, tramp ships trade on the spot market with no fixed schedule or itinerary/ports-of-call...
, the S.S. Schroon, and for the first time saw the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
and the Mediterranean, which he said later decided him on a career in international business
International Business
International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary...
. Returning to Virginia, he attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
for a year, worked for a year for a food brokerage concern, and then in 1924 became a salesman in Norfolk for Libby, McNeill, & Libby, one of the largest American producers of canned foods. He was to spend the remainder of his life in the employ of Libby's
Libby's
Libby's is a U.S.-based food company known for its canned food.The company was founded as Libby, McNeill & Libby in Chicago, Illinois, by Archibald McNeill and the brothers Arthur and Charles Libby. The business began with a canned meat product, beef in brine, or corned beef...
.
In 1927 Bridges was transferred to Libby's export
Export
The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
department and assigned to the company's office in New Orleans. With New Orleans as a base, he spent the next four years selling Libby's products in the Caribbean and Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. In 1932 he was assigned to Libby's corporate headquarters in Chicago. In 1938 he was named manager of the export department, and in 1943 he became corporate vice president for sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
and advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
. He was made a director of the company in 1947, and in 1953 he became Libby's president and chief executive officer. Libby's expanded and modernized during his presidency, and he successfully fought off an attempt by outsiders to take over the company. By 1960 Libby's had 9,000 employees and annual revenues of $296 million, and ranked 154th in size among U.S. corporations.
Bridges served as an officer of the Grocery Manufacturers of America
Grocery Manufacturers Association
The Grocery Manufacturers Association is a trade association based in Washington, D.C..Since 1908, GMA has been representing the world's largest branded food, beverage and consumer product companies...
, a trustee of the Nutrition Foundation, and a member of the boards of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, the Council on Medical and Biological Research of the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, and the Community Memorial General Hospital of La Grange, Illinois
La Grange, Illinois
La Grange, a suburb of Chicago, is a village in Cook County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 15,608 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
in the State of Virginia.
Bridges died at his home in Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
, on November 24, 1961. Subsequently Libby's was acquired by Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
, which continued to use Libby's as a brand name for some years.
Charles Scott Bridges was married in New Orleans on August 26, 1931, to Shirley Amélie Devlin, a native of that city, who survived him until 2003. They had three children: Peter Scott (1932- ), who married Mary Jane Lee; Shirley Bartow Ann (1936- ), who married Peter Joseph Pizzo, Jr.; and Mary Elizabeth (1947- ), who married Timothy Wiggenhorn, from whom she was subsequently divorced. As of 2006 Charles Scott and Shirley (Devlin) Bridges were also survived by eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.