Eagle Distributing Co.

Budweiser was introduced to Eastern Tennessee in the mid 1880’s. It was delivered by a variety of distributors including companies whose primary business was food, other beverages, and even pharmaceuticals. Following Prohibition, several companies distributed Anheuser-Busch products until 1946 when Smoky Mountain Beverage, owned by Charles Brown, took total control from Royal Crown Bottling. In 1958 the distributorship was sold to E.L. Tipton, who renamed the enterprise Tipton Distributing Company. He built a new warehouse facility which is still the home of current company operations. His family held the franchise until 1983, when Raymond D. Hand purchased the company and rechristened it Eagle Distributing Company, Inc. Owner and President of Eagle Distributing Company, Ray Hand was introduced into the malt beverage industry at a very young age. His early start was truly a family affair. Ray worked with his brother, Charles, at their father’s distributing company in Clarksville, Tennessee. Oertles 92 was the most popular brand at that time. Some years later, Anheuser-Busch products were acquired and added to the product line. After continuing his higher education, Ray started a successful uniform laundry business, but decided that his future was in the beer industry.