Inducted 2009

Charles “Chuck” Fruit was known in the national ad community for his work with two of the country’s top beverage companies, Anheuser-Busch and Coca-Cola. He’s also remembered for being one of the first ad execs in the country to recognize the potential of ESPN by signing a $10 million ad deal with the fledgling net giving A-B beer exclusivity. He worked in the brewery’s marketing department for 15 years Fruit is credited being the first to see the value in logo placement in televised sporting events, putting a Budweiser logo on the posts of a boxing ring, and he is credited with playing a major role in the rollout of Bud Light, making it the nation’s best-selling beer. In his work with Coke, Fruit oversaw the company’s Olympics and World Cup promotions.