(La Porte, IN) - A man who once lived in La Porte and Long Beach will be honored for inventing a popular brand of popcorn still found in stores today.

 

Frederick Mennen shot to fame and fortune for his Jiffy Pop Popcorn that began hitting store shelves nationwide in the late 1950’s.

 

A year later, sales of the popcorn exceeded seven million packages, said La Porte County Historian Bruce Johnson.

 

A historical marker with information about Mennen will go up in downtown La Porte at Plaza 618 at Lincolnway and Monroe St. sometime in 2026.  The plaza, which features a splash pad and tables for people to eat or simply relax, is a popular gathering place.

 

La Porte resident Bob Seico, who’s been heavily involved in the effort, made the announcement during the city’s Board of Public Works meeting on Tuesday.

 

“It took me two years to get it approved but it’s finally been approved,” he said.

 

His application for the marker was approved by the Indiana State Historical Society, which deemed the marker in the making as historically significant. Seico said there will be a public dedication ceremony for the marker after it’s been installed.

 

Mennen lived in La Porte when he invented the product and later moved to Long Beach where he resided until his death in 1991.

 

He was 62.

 

Mayor Tom Dermody said Mennen is on a long list of La Porte natives who went on to make a major name for themselves in various capacities throughout the city’s history.

 

“We have so many people who have done great things in La Porte that you may not know or you may not hear of.  So, thank you for bringing this to light. We look forward to that marker,” he said.

 

Mennen came up with the product consisting of a pan-like metal container attached to a wire handle.  Inside the container are kernels of popcorn and cooking oil to be heated on a stove.  The pan is also covered by a flimsy aluminum cover that expands into a balloon shape as the kernels inside keep popping.

 

Jiffy Pop went on to become one of the most well-known and heavily advertised snacks for generations.

 

Johnson said Mennen lived in Long Beach for 29 years until his passing while his wife, Rosemary, continued residing at the home on Lakeshore Drive until her death in 2018.

 

Mennen had patents for other inventions like an at-home testing kit for gonorrhea, he said.