WASHINGTON -- The annual Herbert Hoover Award, the most prestigious prize given by Food Distributors International, Falls Church, Va., hasn't been handed to more than one person a year since 1965. But last week two executives received the honor for 1997.
e last week.
The award, first given in 1961, honors integrity and distinguished contributions to the food industry and society.
In accepting the honor, Twyman, who spent 11 years in the National Basketball Association before entering the food industry, urged distributors to remain proud of their roles as the primary movers of products in the industry.
Twyman has also served on numerous industry boards for companies and charitable organizations and was past chairman of the National-American Wholesale Grocers' Association.
Rich has been deeply involved in many food-industry organizations with board and other positions. He also served as a wartime food administrator.
In remarks to the group, Rich recounted the difficult early efforts to establish the frozen-foods industry as a mainstream part of the food business.
