Red Solo Cup Developer Robert Hulseman Dies at 84

Former Solo Cup Co. President and Chief Executive Robert Hulseman has died at the age of 84.

Hulseman passed away at his home in Northfield, Illinois on December 21. The cause of death has not been released.

Hulseman spent nearly 60 years involved with the foodservice packaging company started in 1936 by his father, Leo, who had previously worked for the Dixie Cup Company. Solo Cup was based in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it made a variety of disposable food and drink containers from paper, plastic and recycled materials.

Robert Hulseman developed the sturdy but inexpensive red plastic Solo Cup in the 1970s and it quickly became a fixture at family gatherings and picnics.

Solo Cup customers include Starbucks, Dairy Queen, Così, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Tim Hortons, as well as many universities.

The cups are used in American college and university games such as beer pong and flip cup, and they are also used by the cannabis growing community as small pots.

Country music star Toby Keith recorded a well-known song, "Red Solo Cup," exalting the virtues of the popular party beverage container.

Although they come in several colors, the red version of the cup outsells the others by a wide margin.

Robert Hulseman also developed the familiar sippy-hole lid for hot coffee cups. In 2005 the Museum of Modern Art in New York City added a Solo Cup Traveler's Lid to its permanent collection, symbolizing innovation and progress in basic product design

The Solo Cup Co. was sold to Dart Container Corp. of Mason, Michigan, in 2012.

________________

Red Solo Cup

Toby Keith

--

Now a red solo cup is the best receptacle

For barbecues tailgates fairs and festivals

And you sir do not have a pair of testicles

If you prefer drinking from glass

--

A red solos cup is cheap and disposable

And in fourteen years they are decomposable

And unlike my home they are not fore-closable

Freddie Mac can kiss my ass woo

--

Red solo cup I fill you up

Let's have a party let's have a party

I love you red solo cup I lift you up

Proceed to party proceed to party

--

Now I really love how your easy to stack

But I really hate how your easy to crack

'Cause when beer runs down the front of my back

Well that my friends is quite yucky

--

But I have to admit that the ladies get smitten

Admiring how sharply my first name is written

On you with a sharpie when I get to hittin'

On them to help me get lucky

--

Red solo cup I fill you up

Let's have a party let's have a party

I love you red solo cup I lift you up

Proceed to party proceed to party

--

Now I've seen you in blue and I've seen you in yellow

But only you red will do for this fellow

'Cause you are my Abbot to my Costello

And you are the fruit to my loom

--

Red solo cup you're more than just plastic

You're more than amazing you're more than fantastic

And believe me that I'm not the least bit sarcastic

When I look at you and say

--

Red solo cup, you're not just a cup. (No, no, God no)

You're my, you're my friend. (Friend, friend, friend, life long)

Thank you for being my friend.

--

Red solo cup I fill you up

Let's have a party let's have a party

I love you red solo cup I lift you up

Proceed to party proceed to party

--

Red solo cup, red solo cup (I fill you up, let's have a party)

Let's have a party (Let's have a party) Let's have a party

(Red solo cup) Oh red solo cup (I lift you up)

Let's have a party, proceed to party yeah yeah

--

Songwriters: Brad Warren / Brett Beavers / Brett Warren / Jim Beavers

Red Solo Cup lyrics © Reservoir Media Management Inc