Snapple's surprise comeback
Hyman Golden, the man who helped break soda's stranglehold on the U.S. soft drink market, was a high-school dropout and window-washer. Along with two friends, he founded Unadulterated Beverage in 1972, though he admits he knew nothing about the business. His little juice company added tea, changed its name to Snapple and sold to Quaker Oats for $1.7 billion in 1994. Golden died in September at age 85, having lived long enough to see his baby make a comeback under the ownership of Dr Pepper. Inc. (12/2008)