Richard L. Yuengling, Jr.
Richard L. Yuengling Jr. ( ) is known for being the current president of D.G. Yuengling and Son, the oldest brewery in the United States. He is the fifth unbroken patrilineal generation to own the company in the Yuengling family since David Yuengling founded D.G. Yuengling in 1829.
Richard L. "[...]" Yuengling Jr. was born to Richard L. Yuengling Sr. and wife Marjorie "Marge" Yuengling (née Hood). He is the grandson of Frank D. Yuengling, the great-grandson of Frederick Yuengling and the great-great grandson of David Yuengling. He is also the nephew of F. Dohrman Yuengling. The family's original surname was Jüngling.
Business
Although Yuengling is a fifth generation beer scion, he has been characterized as "frugal" and "cautious with money." Despite the frugality, however, Yuengling is listed on Forbes as the world's 1241st richest billionaire as of March 2014. In the United States, Forbes lists him as the 395th wealthiest person.
After taking over the business from his father in 1963, Yuengling has continued to work in the brewery.
In 2013, unions called for a boycott of Yuengling beers after a comment Yuengling had made during a talk at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon at the Harrisburg Hilton in Pennsylvania. Yuengling stated that he supported right-to-work laws in the state and wanted a disbanding of unions. The vice president of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, Gary Martin, stated "We're against anyone who's for a right-to-work law in this state... We want to support people who support us. So we'll drink Miller and Budweiser and Pabst Blue Ribbon, companies where owners of the companies don't come out and tell people right out they're against labor unions." Others called for boycotts when they said Yuengling was forcing his workers out of their union rather than just supporting the idea of right-to-work laws.
Yuengling came under criticism again in 2013 for a lawsuit brought against him and the D.G. Yuengling and Son company for avoiding taxes, interest, and penalties due to Pennsylvania amounting to $6.63 million. The company had avoided the Business Income and Receipts Tax, as noted in the City of Philadelphia v. D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. lawsuit. The city cited $3,960,335 in taxes, $963,125.78 in accrued interest, and $1,710,830.11 in penalties. In response to the suit, on the Chris Stigall Show on Talk Radio 1210-AM, Yuengling stated "They're cherry-picking... I can't believe that they tax every pack of gum that comes into the city of Philadelphia."
Some media outlets, including the Huffington Post, have referred to Yuengling as a "baron" in response to the lawsuit and trying to de-certify the union that represents his workers. A number of internet memes were created criticizing Yuengling and satirizing his anti-union views.
Personal
Yuengling is the father of four daughters, all of whom are jointly planning on taking over the family business eventually. When the transition happens, it will make for the sixth successive generation of ownership of the company since its founding. Daughters are, according to birth age, Jennifer Yuengling-Franquet, Deborah Yuengling Ferhat, Wendy Yuengling Baker and Sheryl Yuengling. R. Yuengling maintains a residence in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, which his daughters regularly visit.
Yuengling and his wife, a retired school teacher, are divorced.
In 2000 Yuengling was a delegate for President George W. Bush at the Republican National Convention. Yuengling is considered conservative in his political views and was considered "one of the best known names among Pennsylvania's delegates" at the convention.