Eugene Selvage
Encyclopedia
Eugene "Gene" S. Selvage (1896–1993) was the owner of Lucky Lager Brewing Company and a founder of the Lucky International Open
.
on August 26, 1896. He was the son of Thomas H. Selvage, a Republican California State Senator and Luna M. Shattuck Selvage. In 1917, Eugene enlisted in the United States Naval Aviation Corps, was commissioned a naval aviator, with the rank of ensign, and continued in the service until August 1919. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, he practiced law after his service in the war. Eugene married Jeanne Sexsmith and they had two children, Marilyn Jeanne and Jeannette Lorraine.
Selvage was an avid sportsman, and achieved amateur standing in skeet-shooting and golfing. He also owned Lucky Livestock Company and Lucky Hereford Ranch in Gilroy, California
.
. The General Brewing Company was incorporated in California in 1933 and headquartered in San Francisco. General Brewing became the Lucky Lager Brewing Company in 1948 and began building and acquiring new breweries throughout the Western States. Under Selvage's leadership as owner and CEO, Lucky Lager achieved phenomenal growth in the 1950s, and for more than a decade Lucky Lager beer was the sales leader in the entire West. In 1961, Selvage retired as CEO, but was retained to serve as Chairman of the Board.
Selvage served as President of the California Brewers Association.
. An avid golfer and fan, Selvage believed that the San Francisco Bay Area
should play a major role in professional golf. He sponsored the Lucky International Open
via his company throughout the 1960s, until the tournament disbanded in 1969.
Selvage was close friends and an early sponsor of Masters Champion George Archer
. In fact, Archer received his nickname "Golfing Cowboy" as a result of a summer job in his youth spent at Selvage's Lucky Hereford Ranch.
Lucky International Open
The Lucky International Open was a PGA Tour event that was played in the 1960s at Harding Park Golf Club, a public course in San Francisco across Lake Merced from the more glamorous Olympic Club. One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open was Eugene Selvage, owner of the Lucky...
.
Personal life
Eugene Selvage was born in Eureka, CaliforniaEureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
on August 26, 1896. He was the son of Thomas H. Selvage, a Republican California State Senator and Luna M. Shattuck Selvage. In 1917, Eugene enlisted in the United States Naval Aviation Corps, was commissioned a naval aviator, with the rank of ensign, and continued in the service until August 1919. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, he practiced law after his service in the war. Eugene married Jeanne Sexsmith and they had two children, Marilyn Jeanne and Jeannette Lorraine.
Selvage was an avid sportsman, and achieved amateur standing in skeet-shooting and golfing. He also owned Lucky Livestock Company and Lucky Hereford Ranch in Gilroy, California
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
.
Lucky Lager Brewing Company
Selvage was the founder and owner of the General Brewing Company, which produced Lucky LagerLucky Lager
Lucky Lager is a beer that has a strong cult following on Vancouver Island. At one time Lucky was actually brewed on Vancouver Island in Victoria but in 1982 Labatt Breweries of Canada moved off the Island and proceeded to tear down the brewery to prevent any competition on the Island...
. The General Brewing Company was incorporated in California in 1933 and headquartered in San Francisco. General Brewing became the Lucky Lager Brewing Company in 1948 and began building and acquiring new breweries throughout the Western States. Under Selvage's leadership as owner and CEO, Lucky Lager achieved phenomenal growth in the 1950s, and for more than a decade Lucky Lager beer was the sales leader in the entire West. In 1961, Selvage retired as CEO, but was retained to serve as Chairman of the Board.
Selvage served as President of the California Brewers Association.
Lucky International Open
Selvage was a founder of the Lucky International OpenLucky International Open
The Lucky International Open was a PGA Tour event that was played in the 1960s at Harding Park Golf Club, a public course in San Francisco across Lake Merced from the more glamorous Olympic Club. One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open was Eugene Selvage, owner of the Lucky...
. An avid golfer and fan, Selvage believed that the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
should play a major role in professional golf. He sponsored the Lucky International Open
Lucky International Open
The Lucky International Open was a PGA Tour event that was played in the 1960s at Harding Park Golf Club, a public course in San Francisco across Lake Merced from the more glamorous Olympic Club. One of the founders and sponsors of the Lucky International Open was Eugene Selvage, owner of the Lucky...
via his company throughout the 1960s, until the tournament disbanded in 1969.
Selvage was close friends and an early sponsor of Masters Champion George Archer
George Archer
George William Archer was an American golfer who won twelve events on the PGA Tour, including one major championship.Archer was born in San Francisco, California and was raised just south in the city of San Mateo...
. In fact, Archer received his nickname "Golfing Cowboy" as a result of a summer job in his youth spent at Selvage's Lucky Hereford Ranch.