ALEXANDRIA, VA. — Ernest B. Hueter, former president and chief executive officer of Interstate Brands Corp., died Feb. 26 at Arlington Hospital in Virginia. He was 89 years old.

Born in California in 1920, Mr. Hueter graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism and completed advanced studies in business administration at the University of California, Los Angeles. He later served in the Army during World War II and completed his duty with the rank of Major in the Intelligence Section on General Douglas MacArthur’s staff.


In 1945, he went to Hollywood, Calif., where he became a radio script writer for Bob Hope, Edgar Bergen and Red Skelton.

Mr. Hueter joined I.B.C. in 1947 as assistant advertising manager. He was director of advertising and director of bread operations/sales before being elected a vice-president in 1961.

Elected to the board of directors in 1965, Mr. Hueter was named senior vice-president in March 1966 and president and chief executive officer in June 1966. Under his direction, I.B.C. acquired the Millbrook Bread Division, comprised of eight baking plants, from the former National Biscuit Co.

He was named chairman of the I.B.C. board in 1973, a position he held until 1977, when he became vice-chairman of the board and chairman of the executive committee. He retired from I.B.C. in 1979 after a 32-year career with the company.

Mr. Hueter also was an active leader in baking and food industry organizations throughout his career. He was chairman of the American Institute of Baking from 1974 to 1978, leading the relocation of the Institute from Chicago to Manhattan, Kas., and he was a governor and member of the executive committee of the American Bakers Association from many years.

He was vice-chairman of the Energy Committee of the Grocery Manufacturers of America and held a similar position with the National Association of Manufacturers. He also had been a regional vice-president and member of the executive committee of the latter organization.

After leaving the baking industry in 1980, he joined the National Legal Center for the Public Interest as president, helping to create a new mission and implementing new programs for the organization until his retirement in 2004.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan Le Brun de Surville; a son, Ernest (Chip) Hueter of Warrenton, Va.; a daughter, Kristin Hueter of San Francisco; a daughter-in-law, Carol; two grandchildren and a brother.