- Great American Business Leaders of the Twentieth Century
Elmer F. Pierson
The Vendo Company
1937 - 1974
Food & Tobacco
| Military Service | Army |
|---|
b. 1896
| Education |  |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Kansas City School of Law |
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Born-Died | 1896 - 1982 |
| Birthplace | Missouri (MO) |
| Race | White |
| Father | Owner, Small Business |
Pierson founded the Vendo Company in 1937 after perfecting the development of the first truly workable vending system - a lid called “The Red Top.” Originally designed for Coca-Cola bottles, the new vending machines were quickly converted to handle a variety of products. After World War II, Vendo became the largest manufacturer of vending machines in the world.