Donald Goerke
Encyclopedia
Donald Edward Goerke was an American business executive and food developer. While working for the Franco-American division of the Campbell Soup Company
in 1965, he invented SpaghettiOs
, and was thereafter known as "The Daddy-O of SpaghettiOs."
, Goerke played for the Waukesha High School basketball team that won the Wisconsin state championship in 1944. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II
and received a bachelor's degree from Carroll College after the war. He also received an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.
Goerke began his careers as a market researcher for Blatz Brewery
in Wisconsin. He worked for the Campbell Soup Company for 35 years from 1955 until 1990.
In the early 1960s, Goerke was marketing research director of Campbell's Franco-American division when he was tasked with developing a canned pasta that would appeal to children. Goerke's team reportedly considered and rejected pasta in the shapes of baseballs, cowboys, spacemen and stars. Goerke settled on the "O" shape to make the pasta more resilient to canning and reheating, provide easier consumption using a spoon, and minimize the mess associated with children eating long pasta.
The product, promoted in commercials with Jimmie Rodgers
singing the jingle, "The neat, round spaghetti you can eat with a spoon: Uh-oh, SpaghettiOs," became a major success. Goerke attributed the product's enduring popularity with mothers and children to the fact that "it was 'spoonable' and didn't make a mess." Goerke earned the nickname the "Daddy-O of SpaghettiOs", and served as a goodwill ambassador for the Campbell Soup Company. He appeared on the television program "What's My Line?
". and "hobnobbed with celebrities" including President Ronald Reagan
and Martha Stewart
. He would occasionally autograph a can of SpaghettiOs and appeared on The Today Show
to celebrate the 30th anniversary of SpaghettiOs.
In his 35 years with Campbell Soup Company, Goerke also created the company's "Chunky
" soup line. He later served as the president of Campbell's Champion Valley Farms division that produced Recipe Dog Food, the sponsor of the Lassie
television series.
Goerke died at his home in Delran, New Jersey in January 2010 at the age of 83.
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
in 1965, he invented SpaghettiOs
SpaghettiOs
SpaghettiOs is an American brand of canned, sweetened spaghetti featuring circular pasta shapes in a cheese and tomato sauce — and marketed to parents as 'less messy' than regular spaghetti...
, and was thereafter known as "The Daddy-O of SpaghettiOs."
Biography
Born in Waukesha, WisconsinWaukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, Goerke played for the Waukesha High School basketball team that won the Wisconsin state championship in 1944. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and received a bachelor's degree from Carroll College after the war. He also received an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.
Goerke began his careers as a market researcher for Blatz Brewery
Valentin Blatz Brewing Company
The Valentin Blatz Brewing Company was an American brewery based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It produced Blatz Beer from 1851 until 1959 when the label was sold to Pabst Brewing Company.-History:...
in Wisconsin. He worked for the Campbell Soup Company for 35 years from 1955 until 1990.
In the early 1960s, Goerke was marketing research director of Campbell's Franco-American division when he was tasked with developing a canned pasta that would appeal to children. Goerke's team reportedly considered and rejected pasta in the shapes of baseballs, cowboys, spacemen and stars. Goerke settled on the "O" shape to make the pasta more resilient to canning and reheating, provide easier consumption using a spoon, and minimize the mess associated with children eating long pasta.
The product, promoted in commercials with Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers (pop singer)
James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers is an American singer. He is not related to the country singer of the same name.-Career:...
singing the jingle, "The neat, round spaghetti you can eat with a spoon: Uh-oh, SpaghettiOs," became a major success. Goerke attributed the product's enduring popularity with mothers and children to the fact that "it was 'spoonable' and didn't make a mess." Goerke earned the nickname the "Daddy-O of SpaghettiOs", and served as a goodwill ambassador for the Campbell Soup Company. He appeared on the television program "What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
". and "hobnobbed with celebrities" including President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising...
. He would occasionally autograph a can of SpaghettiOs and appeared on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
to celebrate the 30th anniversary of SpaghettiOs.
In his 35 years with Campbell Soup Company, Goerke also created the company's "Chunky
Chunky
In packed pixel or chunky framebuffer organization, the bits defining each pixel are grouped together. For example, if there are 16 bits per pixel, each pixel is represented in two consecutive 8-bit bytes in the framebuffer . If there are 4 bits per pixel , each frame buffer byte defines two...
" soup line. He later served as the president of Campbell's Champion Valley Farms division that produced Recipe Dog Food, the sponsor of the Lassie
Lassie
Lassie is a fictional collie dog character created by Eric Knight in a short story expanded to novel length called Lassie Come-Home. Published in 1940, the novel was filmed by MGM in 1943 as Lassie Come Home with a dog named Pal playing Lassie. Pal then appeared with the stage name "Lassie" in six...
television series.
Goerke died at his home in Delran, New Jersey in January 2010 at the age of 83.