Pilgrim's Pride Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Hospitalized
in San Antonio
PITTSBURG, Texas, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pilgrim's Pride
Corporation (NYSE: PPC) today announced that O.B. Goolsby Jr., president and
chief executive officer, suffered an apparent massive stroke Saturday morning
while on a hunting trip with customers in south Texas. He was flown by
emergency helicopter to a hospital in San Antonio, where he is listed in
critical condition in the intensive care unit.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with O.B. and his family during this very
difficult period," said Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, senior chairman and co-founder of
Pilgrim's Pride. "O.B. has always been a man of great strength and faith, and
we are confident that the hospital medical team is providing the best possible
care for him."
Out of respect for privacy for Mr. Goolsby and his family, no other
medical information on his condition is being shared publicly at this time.
The Pilgrim's Pride board of directors met by telephone Sunday afternoon
to be briefed on Mr. Goolsby's medical condition and will continue to monitor
it in the days ahead. Additionally, Mr. Goolsby's executive team has met and
taken steps to ensure that, in his absence, all business activities will
continue without interruption.
Mr. Goolsby, 60, has served as president and CEO since September 2004.
Prior to that, he was president and chief operating officer for two years.
Mr. Goolsby joined Pilgrim's Pride in 1969.
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is the largest chicken producer in the United
States and Puerto Rico and the second-largest producer and seller of chicken
in Mexico. Pilgrim's Pride employs approximately 55,000 people and operates 38
poultry processing and 12 prepared-foods facilities, with major operations in
Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia,
Mexico and Puerto Rico as well as other facilities in Arizona, Iowa,
Mississippi, Ohio and Utah.
Pilgrim's Pride products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entree
customers. The Company's primary distribution is through retailers,
foodservice distributors and restaurants throughout the United States and
Puerto Rico and in the Northern and Central regions of Mexico. For more
information, please visit http://www.pilgrimspride.com.
Contact: Gary Rhodes
Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
(903) 434-1495
SOURCE Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
Gary Rhodes, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations of
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, +1-903-434-1495
