Paul F. Iams
Encyclopedia
Paul Falknor Iams was the founder of the Iams Company
which is known for its high-end line of pet food
s.
Iams graduated from the Ohio State University
in 1937, and sold dog food
during the Great Depression
. He learned that not even severe economic hardship would stop owners from buying food to feed their pets. This was a revelation to Iams, as most owners fed their pets leftovers or their own concoctions. A self-taught animal nutrition
alist, Iams founded his company in 1946, and, by 1950, was creating his own recipes in his own plant in Dayton.
When he retired in 1982, Iams sold his stake in the company to his business partner, who sold the company to Procter & Gamble
in 1999. A widower, Iams is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.
Paul Iams was born in Dayton, Ohio
on August 11, 1915. He was a talented high school athlete who won the Ohio State Tennis Championship in 1933. In 1937, he graduated from Ohio State University and became interested in the pet food business while working with his father, Harry, a grain broker. He joined Procter & Gamble in 1938 and was a highly successful soap salesman before joining the Navy in World War II.
After completing his service, Iams decided to create high quality pet food, based on his original nutritional theories and research. He was convinced that there was a strong specialty market for a nutritionally complete dog food. His original customer base was composed of Midwestern veterinarians and dog breeders.
In 1950, he opened his first manufacturing plant in Dayton, Ohio with five employees. He named his first dog food, "Iams 999" to imply that it was nearly perfect.
In the 29 years that he led The Iams Company, he introduced Iams Plus, Iams Chunks and Eukanuba
. Mr. Iams created much of the early look of his products on his own. The name Eukanuba was an exclamation from the 1940s that was used to describe something that was supreme, and he dearly loved the color combination of purple and green, thought strange at the time, but now regarded as a unique signature for his products.
By 1974, with the superior nutritional quality of his products impacting the pet food market, Mr. Iams was recognized as a world authority on carnivore nutrition.
In 1982, Mr. Iams sold the business to Clay Mathile, who had joined Iams in 1970 and was Paul's business partner and friend. In 1999, The Mathiles sold The Iams Company to Procter and Gamble.
In 1987, the Paul F. Iams Technical Center in Lewisburg, Ohio
was opened as a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to researching the emotional and physical needs of companion animals.
Paul Iams died at the age of 89, on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 in Chappaqua, New York
. Until a month earlier, he had lived in Sun City West, Arizona
where he retired in 1982 with his wife, the former Jane Landrum, who died in 1996. He was survived by his younger sister, Nancy (Iams) Egbert; his three children: Paul Iams Jr., Barbara Iams Korein and Carrie Terada; and seven grandchildren.
Iams
Iams is a brand name for dog food and cat food manufactured by Procter & Gamble . The company sells pet food for cats and dogs formulated for puppy/kitten, adult and mature. Its products are developed by nutritionists and veterinarians and can be found in three main formulas: ProActive Health,...
which is known for its high-end line of pet food
Pet food
Pet food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pets. Typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food...
s.
Iams graduated from the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1937, and sold dog food
Dog food
Dog food refers to food specifically intended for consumption by dogs. Though technically omnivorous, dogs exhibit a natural carnivorous bias, have sharp, pointy teeth, and have short gastrointestinal tracts better suited for the consumption of meat...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He learned that not even severe economic hardship would stop owners from buying food to feed their pets. This was a revelation to Iams, as most owners fed their pets leftovers or their own concoctions. A self-taught animal nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
alist, Iams founded his company in 1946, and, by 1950, was creating his own recipes in his own plant in Dayton.
When he retired in 1982, Iams sold his stake in the company to his business partner, who sold the company to Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
in 1999. A widower, Iams is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.
Paul Iams was born in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
on August 11, 1915. He was a talented high school athlete who won the Ohio State Tennis Championship in 1933. In 1937, he graduated from Ohio State University and became interested in the pet food business while working with his father, Harry, a grain broker. He joined Procter & Gamble in 1938 and was a highly successful soap salesman before joining the Navy in World War II.
After completing his service, Iams decided to create high quality pet food, based on his original nutritional theories and research. He was convinced that there was a strong specialty market for a nutritionally complete dog food. His original customer base was composed of Midwestern veterinarians and dog breeders.
In 1950, he opened his first manufacturing plant in Dayton, Ohio with five employees. He named his first dog food, "Iams 999" to imply that it was nearly perfect.
In the 29 years that he led The Iams Company, he introduced Iams Plus, Iams Chunks and Eukanuba
Eukanuba
Eukanuba is a brand name of dog and cat foods, owned and manufactured by Procter & Gamble . The company produces seven formulas for dogs based on age, breed and performance area. All formulas include the Eukanuba Vital Health System™ which consists of clinically proven ingredients in six areas that...
. Mr. Iams created much of the early look of his products on his own. The name Eukanuba was an exclamation from the 1940s that was used to describe something that was supreme, and he dearly loved the color combination of purple and green, thought strange at the time, but now regarded as a unique signature for his products.
By 1974, with the superior nutritional quality of his products impacting the pet food market, Mr. Iams was recognized as a world authority on carnivore nutrition.
In 1982, Mr. Iams sold the business to Clay Mathile, who had joined Iams in 1970 and was Paul's business partner and friend. In 1999, The Mathiles sold The Iams Company to Procter and Gamble.
In 1987, the Paul F. Iams Technical Center in Lewisburg, Ohio
Lewisburg, Ohio
Lewisburg is a village in Preble County, Ohio, United States, founded in 1818. The current village incorporates two prior villages, the original Lewisburg and Euphemia, which merged in 1916. The population was 1,798 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical...
was opened as a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to researching the emotional and physical needs of companion animals.
Paul Iams died at the age of 89, on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 in Chappaqua, New York
Chappaqua, New York
Chappaqua is a hamlet and census-designated place in northern Westchester County, New York. As of the 2010 census, following a major revision to the delineation of its boundaries by the Census Bureau, the population was 1,436...
. Until a month earlier, he had lived in Sun City West, Arizona
Sun City West, Arizona
Sun City West is a census-designated place in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. The population was 26,344 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sun City West is located at ....
where he retired in 1982 with his wife, the former Jane Landrum, who died in 1996. He was survived by his younger sister, Nancy (Iams) Egbert; his three children: Paul Iams Jr., Barbara Iams Korein and Carrie Terada; and seven grandchildren.