Robert Leo Hulseman, the man behind the perfect party cup, passed away on December 21, leaving behind one hell of a legacy thanks to his brilliant invention.
According to US Weekly, Hulseman left Dixie to work at for the Solo Cup Company at age 18, a company which his father, Leo Hulseman, had founded. But the famed red receptacle wasn’t marketed as a recreational drink container until the 1970s. As to why the particular color was chosen, Solo Vice President Kim Healy told Slate, “Consumers prefer red, and it’s not even close. It’s a neutral color that’s appealing to both men and women. It’s also just become standard.”
She’s not kidding — sixty percent of Solo cups are of that quintessential crimson color. They’re so recognizable that multiple websites even peddle “American Red Cups” in Europe.
It’s not often that such a simple household product carries such a legacy, but then again, not many products are so commonly-associated with having a fucking great time.
So with that, let’s celebrate Hulseman’s life and crank up Toby Keith’s aptly titled 2011 hit, “Red Solo Cup.”
