Tobacco industry mourns Marvin Coghill

Marvin Wellons Coghill Jr., who was instrumental in the development of Standard Commercial Tobacco Co., passed away Aug. 18, 2013, at the Rex Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, after several months of illness.

Coghill was born in Henderson, North Carolina, on Sept. 8, 1933.  He attended North Carolina State University (1951) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1952). Following his military service, Coghill joined Elia Salzman Tobacco Co. in England. Salzman soon merged with Standard Commercial Tobacco Co. (now part of Alliance One International), and Coghill served in a number of leadership roles with the expanded company.

In 1963, Coghill was appointed manager of Standard Commercial’s joint-venture factory, Siam Tobacco Export Corp., in Chiangmai, Thailand. He became the company’s Far East regional manager in 1970 and a director of Standard Commercial Tobacco Co. in 1975.

Coghill was named president and chief operating officer of Standard Commercial Tobacco Co. in 1980. Following the acquisition of the wool business, the company split the wool and tobacco divisions in 1993, and Coghill became chairman of the tobacco division, a position he held until his retirement in 2000. Following retirement, Coghill remained as a member of the board of directors until August 2002.

Coghill was involved with many organizations in Wilson, North Carolina. His contributions and leadership were recognized with prestigious awards, such as the Service Above Self Award from the Greater Wilson Rotary Club and the Wilson Rotary Club, the Wilson Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award and the 2010 Wilson-Barton Partnership Leadership Award. He also received the 2011 Excellence in Agriculture Award from the Tobacco Farm Life Museum.