Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 8/18/16


Marvin Johnson, founder and former CEO of House of Raeford Farms, passed away Wednesday at the age of 89. He died in his sleep, at home, the company announced in a news release.

At the time of his death, Johnson still held the title of chairman of the board emeritus.

Johnson got his start in Rose Hill, N.C., selling live turkeys grown in his backyard, a venture that led Marvin and his brother, Bizzell, to buy their first incubator and a few turkey eggs.

After serving overseas during World War II, Johnson joined his father and brother in building Rose Hill’s first feed mill in 1955. The Johnson family later added a chicken hatchery and obtained ownership interest in Rose Hill Poultry and Raeford Turkey Farms in Raeford, N.C. 

In just a few years, the family became the sole owners of Rose Hill Poultry, Raeford Turkey Farms became House of Raeford and the two were joined together as House of Raeford Farms Inc. House of Raeford was the first to process turkeys year-round, and invented the retail deli turkey breast and whole cooked turkey, among many other products.  

Under Johnson’s leadership, House of Raeford Farms became a world-class, family-owned enterprise. Today, the company is among the 10 largest chicken producers in the country, and one of the largest family-owned businesses in North Carolina.

House of Raeford has operations in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina, with more than 5,500 employees.
Marvin Johnson served the industry as president of the National Turkey Federation, N.C. Poultry Federation, and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, and was inducted into the N.C. Poultry Hall of Fame in 1996. He was named Chairman of the Board Emeritus in 2010 as he moved away from day-to-day operations with his son, Bob, at the helm.

Johnson’s funeral service will be held at Rose Hill United Methodist Church on Friday.

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