Chuck Greb, the man who found Velvet the basset hound for Hush Puppies had died
Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Hush Puppies Lovers……
As national sales director of the company, Chuck Greb was the man who found Velvet, the basset hound that became emblematic of the company’s Hush Puppies brand in the 1960s. Kodiak was another well-known Greb label.
Waterloo, Ontario – Friday Dec 5, 2008 – Chuck Greb stands in front of a photo of Jasmine and Velvet, basset hounds he owned in the early 1970s. Violet (right) was a mascot for the Hush Puppies shoes produced by Greb Industries, a company founded by his grandfather. Philip Walker, Record staff
At its peak in the early 1970s, Greb Industries operated seven plants in North America, and had 2,200 people on its payroll. The family sold the company in 1974. The last local plant closed in 1990.
Nearing 80, Greb teamed up with a retired journalist to publish The Greb Story, an account of the family’s 64 years with one of the city’s legacy industries.
The dogs lived the life of Riley.
“Velvet traveled with me wherever I went,” Greb says. “She stayed in the finest hotels.”
In 1973, Velvet and Jasmine disappeared, unleashing international media attention and public outrage. Jasmine’s body was eventually found at the bottom of a silo. Velvet was never found.
“I think some kids probably did it,” Greb says.
The following year, the family sold the business.
End of article….
I would really like to read more of this man’s story and how he found Velvet. Howl fasinating.
RIP Mr. Greb, you will be missed
More finding out about Velvet later….Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma
Comments(6)
This is so sad. He looks like a fine charismatic gentlemen.
Poor Velvet and Jasmine, I had never heard about them until this post. I thought Jason was the first Basset Hound that Hush Puppies used.
Poor puppies! I never knew they were killed like that. That’s just awful!
It is just horrible. I am sick after reading that. Just sick.
Cat
omg. Poor Velvet snd Jasmine!!!! I knew the hush puppy story, but not this part.
Oh my – I thibk Velvet was the reason I always wanted a Basset hound. I loved to go into the shoe store (remember when there was a store that just sold shoes? and wasn’t in a mall?)) I fell in love with the Hush Puppy crdboard cut-outs. I still have a plastic Hush Puppy bank.
just googled “velvet basset hound” as i am excited to be heading out to look at an 8 week old puppy named velvet tomorrow. this story came up. having owned bassets all my life, this breaks my heart for the gentle breed that i will proudly always own at least one. however, i was surprised as I had heard that the earliest bassets used for Hush Puppy advertizing was from Fasset Bassets in the Bay Area of CA. Please let me know if any one knows if this is true. thank you.