Lyndon Leslie “Lindy” Pearson, a veteran promotional products executive, former PPAI board member and Counselor’s 1998 Person of the Year, passed away on September 10. He was 90.

Pearson was born in Summit, New Jersey, and attended the Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. He graduated from Hobart College in Geneva, New York, in 1952, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Society, and he served proudly as a pilot in the United States Marine Corps from 1952-1956, having achieved the rank of captain.

He was a pilot for Pan-American Airlines from 1956-1958 before moving to Alabama. In 1958, Pearson joined Thompson Tractor in Birmingham as a pilot and sales promotion manager. It was there that he had the opportunity to transport the legendary Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and he became a lifelong Alabama football fan. He joined Alabaster Industries as national sales director in 1964 and began a 40-year career in the promotional products industry.

In 1978, Pearson co-founded American Household Products (AmPro) in Leeds, Alabama. Then in 1988, he joined distributor Schmidt Cannon in California. Pearson was a natural salesman and brought the worlds of premium products and promotional products together. He was greatly admired and served as a mentor to many in the industry, especially in teaching young people how to succeed. It was as a tribute to his success in the industry that he was named ASI Counselor’s Promotional Products Person of the Year in 1998.

Pearson was active in St Luke’s Church in Birmingham, serving as a Stephen minister and mentoring and counseling many people of all ages.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Ruth Hatch Pearson, and by four of his children, Janet Pearson Turman and husband Rick, Barry Stewart Pearson and wife Mary Beth, Lee Bowers Pearson and wife Sharon, Leslie Pearson Bates and husband Albert; and 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. A private family memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on September 16, 2020. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the St. Luke’s Foundation, Birmingham, or the Promotional Products Education Foundation in Pearson’s honor.

To share memories or condolences email pearsonmktg@earthlink.net.