Joseph G. Lipic Sr., MAS, president of Alexander Manufacturing (PPAI 113670), passed away peacefully on May 23.

Lipic, who was 89, was a nearly 60-year veteran of the promo industry. His great-grandfather started a promo company in 1863 “in a one-room shop on the Mississippi riverfront.” Lipic continued that legacy, living and working out of St. Louis his entire life.

  • He served on the PPAI Board of Directors, concluding his term in 1986.
  • The PPAI Hall of Fame inducted Lipic in 2003 for his contributions to the promo industry.


“Joseph was not only a beloved patriarch but also a visionary leader whose influence on the Promotional Products Industry will endure,” the company said in a statement. “At Alexander Manufacturing, we feel deeply the loss of his leadership, wisdom and unwavering dedication.”

He is survived by his wife, Joan, his four children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

‘A Trailblazer and Mentor’

Lipic was a passionate supporter of his alma mater, Saint Louis University, where he originally met Joan in the 1950s. He led a successful fundraiser to support the construction of the primary campus library, and the school named the Joseph G. Lipic Clock Tower Plaza in his honor at the center of campus.

Charles G. Duggan II, MAS+, VP of Sales, North America at Goldstar, PPAI 100’s No. 16 supplier, is another St. Louis resident, who attained a degree from Saint Louis University at the age of 51 and funded a PPAI scholarship for adult learners. Duggan began his career working for Lipic at Alexander Manufacturing.

“Joe Lipic was a true trailblazer in the promotional products industry and somebody who had a huge impact on my life and career,” Dugan says. “He was a mentor, a fellow PPAI board member, a Hall of Fame inductee and someone who led with integrity, heart and a vision that not only shaped the company but the industry as a whole.

Joe Lipic was a true trailblazer in the promotional products industry and somebody who had a huge impact on my life and career.”

Charles G. Duggan II, MAS+

VP of Sales, North America, Goldstar

“Joe’s legacy lives on with the relationships he built and the example he set for all of us.”

  • Alexander Manufacturing will close its offices Monday, June 9 for a celebration of life.
  • Visitation will be held at St. Francis Xavier College Church, 3628 Lindell Blvd. at Grand Blvd., 63108 on Monday, June 9, from 1 p.m. until time of funeral mass at 3 p.m. 
  • Those unable to attend can livestream the mass by clicking here.