KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Lynn Burkhart Weigel, a co-founder of the Weigel's dairy/convenience stores and gas stations, died on December 18 in his Knoxville, Tenn., home.
Weigel, 94, was born on a farm in Powell in 1917.
The Weigel family entered the dairy business in 1931 according to CSPedia. In 1938, management of the operation passed to Lynn B. and brother William W. Weigel. The Weigel brothers pioneered drive-thru stores in East Tennessee and opened 500-square-foot Store No. 1 in Knoxville in December 1958. Weigel's operated several drive-through milk depots in the early 1960s, then Bill Weigel opened Knoxville's first walk-in c-store in June 1964.
The company, which has nearly 500 employees, no longer runs a dairy farm, but it operates a modern, automated milk plant near the corporate offices.
Weigel's Farm Stores Inc. operates nearly 60 dairy and c-stores, all within a 50-mile radius of its corporate headquarters in Powell, Tenn.
The chain is known for "firsts," added CSPedia. The Weigel brothers were the first in Knoxville to pasteurize milk in 1935. They were the first to introduce self-serve gasoline pumps and the frozen ICEE drink to the Tennessee market. Another first in the market, in 2011, the chain introduced surcharge-free ATMs.
Weigel is survived by his wife of 68-years, Kathleen, and son Lynn Jr. A daughter, Rebecca Kathleen, died in 1997.
CSP sends condolences to his family, his friends and his colleagues.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.