Page 7 - Volume 15 Number 5

Stamoules Produce has expanded its legacy crops in the past decade and are also devel- oping its pistachio business. The company currently has nearly 17,000 acres in production and dispenses more than 14 million boxes of produce per year. (Credit: Troy Ruff)
Credit: Stefanopoulos family
Credit: Textron Aviation
wife Olive Ann and a small group of engineers and investors. Olive Ann became president of the company in 1950 when Walter died from a heart attack at age 59. She was the first woman to head a major aircraft company and went on to have a National Aviation Hall of Fame career.
Helen grew the farm to about 2,000 acres by 1960 and worked in the business the rest of her life; she died at age 85 in 1992.
Peggy married Tom Stefanopou- los, a Greek immigrant, in 1966 and they helped Helen run Sta- moules Produce. They continue to lead the company alongside their adult children: Dionysos (Dio)
Spero Stamoules (left) and Walter Beech (right) were the founders of their companies, making their dreams into reality with innovative ideas in their perspective industries. Both suffered untimely deaths and their wives took over the companies and became leaders in their own right.
JUNE 2021
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 5