OBITUARY – HARVEY R. CHAPLIN

HARVEY R. CHAPLIN, 95
Harvey R. Chaplin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits passed away on June 9 at the age 95. He also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Shaw-Ross International Importers, Inc. and served on the WSWA Board of Directors for over 20 years. Harvey began his career in the wine and spirits industry before he graduated high school, having landed a part-time position in the mailroom at Schenley Industries in Manhattan. At that time Schenley was a leading distilled spirits marketer as well as the American importer of Dewar’s White Label Scotch. He worked his way up from the mailroom to become assistant director of marketing. He worked as a distributor in upstate New York from 1961 to 1968, and ran wholesale operations in Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany. In 1969, he joined Southern Wine and Spirits of America. Prior to becoming its Chairman and CEO of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. in 1994, Mr. Chaplin served in numerous senior executive roles running day-to-day operations of the company. He was also a generous philanthropic benefactor of local, state and national charities, hospitals and educational institutions.