Hines, Duncan

1880 – He was born on Mar. 26 this year in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was a traveling salesman for

a Chicago printer and traveled all over the country, for over 30 years.

1900s-1930s - in a time long before franchised restaurants and hotels. He kept meticulous notes on which establishments fed him well or provided him with a good night's sleep, and wrote and self-published popular travel guides, offering readers his tasteful advice on roadside diners and hotels.

1935 - By age of 55 in this year, he had eaten many good and bad meals on the road.

1936 - Hines' published his first cookbook, entitled Adventures in Good Eating this year, and with annual updates, his guidebooks and cookbooks made him famous.

Duncan wrote 6 books -

Adventures in Good Eating (1936)

Lodging for a Night (1938)

Adventures in Good Cooking (1939)

Duncan Hines Vacation Guide (1948)

Duncan Hines Food Odyssey (1955)

Duncan Hines Dessert Book (1955)

1947 - he was approached by an entrepreneur, Roy H. Park, who wanted to put Hines' well-respected name on kitchen products from pickles to appliances. Their company, Hines-Park Foods, made both men millionaires.

1953 – He sold the right to use his name and the title of his book to Hines-Park Institute, which licensed the name to a number of food-related businesses. the cake mix license was sold to Nebraska Consolidated Mills, which developed and sold the first "Duncan Hines" cake mixes.

1957 – The Nebraska Consolidated Mills sold the cake mix business to the U.S. consumer products company Procter & Gamble. The company expanded the business to the national market, and added a series of related products.

1959 – He died on the 15th day of March this year. He is now largely remembered for the cake mix,  this rather than for any of his journalistic accomplishments.

1962 - his guidebooks were discontinued. The cookbooks are still in print.

         - he married 3 times, no kids.

Hines is widely honored in his hometown of Bowling Green and a portion of U.S. Route 31W north of the city was named the Duncan Hines Highway.