Richard E. Meyer

Meyer was born in Reading, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. He applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, but was rejected because of his height (6 feet 7 inches). After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in journalism, he borrowed money to start an advertising agency named Meyer and Rosenthal. Within two years of opening, the company went from no revenue to $2 million. In 1974, Meyer joined the perfume company Jovan, Inc.^[1] and became its president and CEO in 1977.^[2] Under Meyer's leadership, sales of Jovan perfumes quadrupled.

In 1984, Meyer founded the Chicago-based record label Red Label Records.^[3] In 1985, he wrote the lyrics for and produced the Chicago Bears' novelty record, "The Super Bowl Shuffle".^[4]

In 1988, Meyer sued Ad Age magazine and its editor-at-large Joseph M. Winski^[5] for libel after the magazine published an article alleging that Meyer was a heavy drinker and cocaine user. Meyer initially lost the suit, but the decision was reversed on appeal, leading to an undisclosed settlement between the parties.^[2]

Meyer died of cancer in 1992, at the age of 53. He was survived by his wife Julia and two daughters.^[6]