Friday, August 7, 2009
News A Round for the Late Jimmy Bedford, Jack Daniel's Retired Master Distiller
Posted by Jim Ridley on Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Sad news from Nfocus editor Ellen Nelson:
Jimmy Bedford, the sixth of seven master distillers of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, died earlier today of a heart attack. He had retired last year at age 68 after 40 years with the Lynchburg distillery.
Bedford began his career with Brown-Forman in Lynchburg at a young age, forgoing his desire to be a large-animal vet. The choice served him well, as he quickly climbed the ladder working under previous head distiller Frank Bobo.
A native of Lynchburg, Bedford hadn't traveled much until he became master distiller in 1988. But with his sturdy, handsome good looks and deep Southern pipes, he was the perfect role model for Jack Daniel's and met with whiskey lovers in scores of nations. From a goat hill in Greece to discos in the Czech Republic, Bedford was revered as the rep for an American icon. Since his retirement, he'd been enjoying work on his farm, just a mile down the road from the distillery.
For the record, he drank his Jack on the rocks with just a little splash of water to open it up--or, as they say, to uncoil the serpent.
Comments (15)
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What a shock. He always seemed so vibrant and had more energy at 68 than most people have at half that age. I love the photo with all the other MD's in the background.
Mr. Jimmy will be missed in and around the town. He was a wonderful family man that represented our community well.
I'm shocked by this news. I was lucky enough to meet Jimmy many times at bike rallies and at The Distillery. You'll never meet a nicer person. My prayers go out to his wife and family. He was a true southern gentleman and will be sorely missed. So sad that he didn't have more of a retirement. Damn, what a shame. I'll never forget you Mr. Bedford. God bless.
Myself, having know the Bedford family for decades, give kudos to your story. You are right on line with the travel bit and the splash of water!! God bless Emily and Alice...
I grew up with my father selling JD. Having spent my summer vacations at the Distillery and with my father at JD events, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Bedford several times over the years.
He was always kind to me and quick to tell me a funny story about my father. He was a gentleman in a industry that was less than honorable.
After 25 years of observing this business, Mr Bedford was one of the few things that remained and was and worth admiring.
He will be greatly missed by me and my family. I will always remember him, a true southern gentlemen.
my sister jenny ferrell had a lot of cancer scares and jimmy always called or ask someone he could get in touch with how she was doing and he realy cared he was not fake i was so enpressed by this he was a great person and him and his wife made my sister fill like she was a part of their family to be such a inporant person he was just down to earth thank you so very much and i am sorry hes gone it just wont be the same without him thank for everything val ferrell.
I met Jimmy Bedford sevearl years ago at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole Wyoming.
There has never been a face to represent a whiskey and Jimmy was the true essence of Jack Daniels. A charismatic gentleman His deep southern voice ran through you like spring water through a mountain.
Gentleman Jack will know be known as Gentleman Jimmy to me.
R.I.P. Jimmy
My husband and I met Mr. Bedford in 2007 at the Jack Daniel's BBQ Invitational in Lynchburg. We'd had some car trouble at the end of the day and were stuck in a field at the high school, trying to find someone with jumper cables. Mr. Bedford and his lovely wife pulled up in the nick of time to fix our car (turns out he'd had a similar problem a week earlier)...we didn't recognize him until he gave us his card, telling us to call him on our way home if we had anymore trouble.
What a wonderful, talented and helpful man! He will be truly missed!
Good grief, is someone going to give us the scoop on the sexual harassment suit that ended his career last year? Ol' Jimmy was forced into retirement after Jack Daniels paid a $3.5 million out-of-court settlement to a Texas woman. .
From the NY Times last year:
COMPLAINT AT JACK DANIEL’S Jimmy Bedford, former master distiller of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, has been accused of sexual harassment by an employee of the company. Claudia Falkenberg, a Jack Daniel’s brand manager, said Mr. Bedford made “perverted” comments and “groped” her repeatedly during a promotional tour of South Texas last November. She filed suit this month in state court in Austin, Tex.
Mr. Bedford was only the sixth master distiller of Jack Daniel’s since 1866. He was the avuncular public face of the brand, appearing in print ads and signing bottles for fans. Ten million cases of Jack Daniel’s are sold annually.
He was asked to retire in March, at the age of 68, after the parent of Jack Daniel’s, Brown-Forman, conducted an internal investigation into Ms. Falkenberg’s allegations, said Phil Lynch, a company spokesman. The reason for his departure was not disclosed at the time.
Ms. Falkenberg, 37, had already filed a complaint against the company with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that she has suffered discrimination and retaliation. Mr. Lynch said of the allegations of sexual harassment: “We found her accusations were credible and took immediate action.” However, Brown-Forman denied Ms. Falkenberg's charges of discrimination and retaliation.
Mr. Bedford could not be reached for comment
