Eggleston, Roger Jackson

Chesterfield, VA August 8, 1956-March 17, 2012

Roger Eggleston, also known as “Pony”, was ultimately a true tobacco man. He was the son of the late Thomas Brice Eggleston, Sr. and Norma Murphy Eggleston, who survives, of South Boston, VA. Roger, his two brothers (Tommy Eggleston and Jim Eggleston), and his father were all tobacconist. His father was a leaf buyer, leaf supervisor, and plant manager of Southern Processors tobacco. Being a part of the tobacco heritage was meaningful to Roger who was very proud of his family roots in the industry. He was a graduate of Tusculum College. Shortly after college, he worked for Universal Leaf Tobacco Company. He was a world traveler executing business in Italy, India, the Philippines, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. He was in charge of the border belt area, western Kentucky territory, and then he oversaw Tobacco Farming Partnering Program. In the mid-nineties he began working for Philip Morris USA where he worked as a leaf manager until late 2011. Roger was an excellent judge of tobacco, and he was always willing to teach those willing to learn about the crop. He believed that his knowledge of tobacco was a gift given to him. He was in a Marlboro tobacco “flavor” commercial overseas. Regardless of negative societal comments , he was incredibly honored to be in the tobacco industry. He felt that the tobacco industry was one of the best. Roger was optimistic, fun loving, comical, and never without words. He was fair-minded, confident and dedicated to his profession. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing as often as possible. He had a true love for three things: tobacco, guns and beagle dogs. He was a member of Glen Oak Country Club and the Split Tail Hunt Club. He was successful in his business endeavors, and he had fun while working. Roger certainly left his footprint in the tobacco industry, and he will be greatly missed by all.

This page was donated by Alliance One International, Inc.

Written by: Mary Clayton Eggleston