Tom Peterson
American retailer (1930–2016) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Thomas Howard Peterson (February 23, 1930 – July 25, 2016) was an American retailer, pitchman, and television personality from Portland, Oregon. Peterson opened his first store in 1964, which grew to a regional consumer electronics, home appliance, and furniture chain in the 1970s. His memorable television commercials and unusual promotions made him a widely recognized personality in the Portland area by the 1980s, leading to several cameo appearances in the films of Gus Van Sant.
Tom Peterson | |
---|---|
Born | Thomas Howard Peterson (1930-02-23)February 23, 1930 St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | July 25, 2016(2016-07-25) (aged 86) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
Resting place | Lincoln Memorial Park & Funeral Home |
Occupation | Retailer |
Known for | Television personality |
Spouse |
Gloria Peterson
(m. 1952–2016) |
Children | 2 |
In the early 1990s, having acquired and been unable to successfully integrate a competing chain of electronics stores, Peterson filed for bankruptcy protection before reemerging as a scaled-down furniture retailer that offered minimal electronics. He continued appearing in his own commercials into the early 2000s, and the store's final location closed in February 2009.