Happy Birthday George Hormel: “The Father Of Spam”

George Hormel, who gave us that canned meat wonder known as SPAM, was born on December 4, 1860 in Buffalo, N.Y.

George Hormel invented the product (its name is a portmanteau of spiced and ham) in 1937 but it was not popular.  Following World War II, Hormel enlisted the help of a select group of attractive young women, known as The Hormel Girls, to travel the country promoting his product.  They ended up doing vaudeville-type shows with singing, dancing and a 16-member, all female orchestra.  Eventually The Hormel Girls had their own popular radio show!  Of course the show was sponsored by SPAM, and the rest, as they say, is history!

So, how will you celebrate George Hormel's birthday?  With a big slab of his famous canned meat?  I doubt it....