David Ruff, president and CEO of Petit Jean Meats, dead at 70

The head of one of Arkansas’ oldest family-owned businesses has died.

David Ruff, president and CEO of Morrilton Packing Co., died Wednesday (Jan. 31) at Conway Regional Medical Center. He was 70.

A spokesman said the cause of death was an “enduring illness.”

Ruff worked for the business — parent company of Petit Jean Meats — since 1984, starting as a plant manager. He was promoted to CEO in 1990 following the death of his father, Edward.

“David oversaw many milestones at Petit Jean Meats such as increasing production with a new state-of-the-art production plant and shipping Petit Jean Meats nationwide,” according to a company statement.

Ruff graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, and Petit Jean Meats was a longtime supporter of Arkansas Razorback athletics.

David’s son Edward, the company’s operations manager and oldest of three sons who work for the company, is the likely heir to become the next CEO, according to a spokesman. The company announced a $2.1 million expansion in December, expected to create 34 jobs.

Morrilton Packing Co. has been family owned since its founding in the 1920s by Felix Schlosser, shortly after he immigrated to Arkansas from Germany. Morrilton Packing operated a wholesale business and a retail market until closing the retail shop in 1943.