Former Keebler head Garvin dies

Thomas Garvin, a former president of the Keebler Foods Co., died at his Wheaton home Friday night from pancreatic cancer. He was 74.

Garvin served as president of Keebler for 14 years from 1978 to 1992. During his tenure as head of the firm, its business grew from $250 million to $2 billion annually. His career with the famous cookie and cracker company extended back to 1969. He rose through the firm's finance department to be promoted to executive vice president of operations in 1974 before becoming president and chief executive officer.

Garvin's background in Chicago-area business was extensive. He was president of the Garvin Investment Corp., which he founded in 1995. He was a member of the executive network and investment committee at Stockwell Capital from 1997 and served as an independent consultant for several firms. He was president at the G.G. Products Co. in Oak Brook before his formal retirement in 2001. Before that, he was chairman of the Edwards Baking Company from 1995 to 2001.

Garvin received his bachelor's degree and master's in business administration from Loyola University and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Chicago.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary, six children and 18 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Michael Catholic Church, 310 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton.

Garvin led a fund drive to repair the church after a fire, and also had been a co-founder of the Wheaton Youth Football League.