Madeira

Robert L. Madeira

August 30, 1915 - August 16, 2005

August 18, 2005

Jay B. Wenther

Robert L. Madeira, 89, formerly Chief Executive Officer and Washington Lobbyist for the American Association of Meat Processors with offices in Elizabethtown, died on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, of natural causes at his home.

To read:

Robert's obituary published in the Lancaster Newspapers, Click Here.

AAMP's Press Release, Click Here.

Remembrances of a friend by Steve Krut, Click Here.

The Family That Bob Helped Build

In the mid 1930’s builders of locker plants and locker plant equipment organized the Frozen Food Locker Manufacturers. By the late 1930’s the Frozen Food Locker Manufacturers was eventually known as Frozen Food Locker Institute (FFLI) – Supplier Group.

On December 7-9, 1939 the first Annual Convention of the National Frozen Food Locker Association was held in Des Moines, IA.

Topics discussed at the convention included plastic packaging materials (i.e. Cry-O-Vac bags), meat cutting procedures, and the economic effects of locker services.

A trade show was also held in conjunction with the convention. Exhibitors displayed locker storage equipment, refrigeration equipment, packaging materials, and meat processing equipment.

Officers were elected at the first National Convention of the National Frozen Food Locker Association. From left to right: Roy G. Meyers, president, Falls City, Nebraska; Albert Guggedahl, secretary, Des Moines, Iowa; Frank C. Smith, treasurer, Ames, IA. Other officers elected at that time and not appearing in the picture were: Robert B. Snowden, Jr., first vice president, Memphis Tennessee; H.A. Dudley, second vice president, Tacoma, Washington; Max DeFouw, third vice president, Oregon, Illinois.

In 1942 the national membership totaled over 3500 members. In 1944 a verbal agreement was entered into between the suppliers (Frozen Food Locker Institute) and the locker operators (National Frozen Food Locker Association) to jointly sponsor the annual convention and exhibition in 1947.

In 1947, Al Guggedahl (Executive Director of the National Frozen Food Locker Association) resigned for health reasons. Keith Bauder, a prominent and successful locker operator from Fort Plain, New York, accepted the appointment as the National’s new Executive Secretary for $1 per year with the understanding that the headquarters would eventually be moved from Des Moines, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois and that George Schiemer would head up the office staff. The National Frozen Food Locker Association headquarters moved to Fort Plain, New York.

In 1948 the National Frozen Food Locker Association headquarters moved to Chicago, Illinois.

In 1949 two separate conventions were held in Chicago, Illinois. The National Frozen Food Locker Association meet in September and S.T. Warrington was hired as full time Executive Secretary for the association. The Frozen Food Locker Institute meet in October where Albert Todoroff was named the Executive Secretary of the Association.

In 1950 the National Frozen Food Locker Association and the Frozen Food Locker Institute agreed to jointly sponsor the national convention in October at the Palmer House in Chicago, Illinois.


At the 1950 convention a negotiating committee was activated consisting of four member from each group to bring about a resolution of the conflict between the two groups. Robert Madeira is picuterd sitting on the far right side.

The result.....the two associations merged to become the National Frozen Food Locker Institute (NFFLI). The news of this merger was announced at the convention and released in the publication "Locker Management and Locker Operator."

On January 1, 1951 the Board of Directors of the National Frozen Food Locker Institute hired Robert L. Madeira as the new Executive Secretary.

The NFFLI headquarters moved from Chicago, IL to Elizabethtown, PA. Although the welcome mat was always out, only a few operators had the opportunity to drop in at the 113 North Market Street headquarters. The Institute staff consisted of four full-time employees, including Bob Madeira.

At his desk ready to be of service to all members of the NFFLI is Robert Madeira, exceutive secretary. Photo published in Freezer Provisioning, August, 1956.

In 1955 the NFFLI changed its name to the National Institute of Locker & Freezer Provisioners (NILFP). The name change was more representative to the work performed by the operators.

In 1956 the NILFP moved to a new location at 224 East High Street in Elizabethtown, PA.

At the 34th Annual Convention (August 12-15, 1973) the membership unanimously voted to change the official name to the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) and adopt a new logo.

In 1981 Robert Madeira stepped down as Executive Director and Stephen Krut was appointed as the new Executive Director of AAMP. Robert Madeira was appointed as Executive Director Emeritus and on January 1, 1986 Robert Madeira retired as Executive Director Emeritus.

October, 2003 (left to right: Jay Wenther, Bob Madeira, & Steve Krut)

Today, The American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP), is North America's largest meat trade organization. Membership includes more than 1,700 medium-sized and smaller meat, poultry and food businesses: slaughterers, packers, processors, wholesalers, in-home food service business, retailers, deli and catering operators, and industry suppliers. AAMP members are from the U.S., Canadian provinces and several foreign countries. AAMP's Board of Directors , consisting of 20 members, have general executive powers and general jurisdiction of all business of the association. AAMP is also affiliated with 33 state, regional and provincial meat trade organizations.