He was a legend. He was also a brother of the leaf. Mark Ryan, a revered figure in the tobacco industry, known for reviving the rare Perique tobacco and founding Daughters & Ryan, passed away on May 5 at the age of 69. His dedication to preserving traditional tobacco practices left an indelible mark on the industry.
Ryan was well known for his deep, raspy voice that was easily recognized from across a conference room or a trade show floor. He would often wear a tuxedo during trade shows, setting himself apart from the then industry-standard suit and tie.
Ryan won numerous awards for his contributions to the tobacco industry, including the prestigious Golden Leaf Award from the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum. Ryan was also instrumental in helping tobacco companies during the Master Settlement Agreement and was a constant challenger of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s overzealous regulatory overreach in the tobacco industry.
In 2005, Ryan purchased the L.A. Poche Perique Tobacco Company in Convent, Louisiana, rescuing the nearly extinct Perique tobacco from oblivion. At the time, only one barrel of Perique was produced annually. Under Ryan’s stewardship, production soared to approximately 80,000 pounds per year, revitalizing the local economy and preserving a unique aspect of American agricultural heritage.
Ryan founded Daughters & Ryan in 1992, initially focusing on roll-your-own tobacco before expanding into premium pipe tobaccos. His blends, such as Two Timer, Windsail, Rimboche and Picayune, garnered acclaim for their flavor, quality and craftsmanship.
In 2020, he sold a majority stake in Daughters & Ryan to Inter-Continental Trading USA but retained ownership of the L.A. Poche Perique Tobacco Company, ensuring the continued production of authentic Perique.
Beyond his business ventures, Ryan was a passionate advocate for the tobacco community, often emphasizing his role as a custodian of tradition rather than merely a proprietor. His efforts preserved not only a unique tobacco variety but also the cultural heritage of St. James Parish, Louisiana.
Brooks Whittington, co-founder of Halfwheel cigar blog, said Ryan was one of those people you heard long before you saw him. “He had an infectious laugh and an amazing enthusiasm about life,” Whittington said. “He was a genuine and loving soul whom I and everyone who knew him will miss dearly.”
Trent Bohl, a longtime friend of Ryan’s and owner and founder of EZJ Auto-roller and Smokey Joes West in New Mexico, said Ryan’s contributions to tobacco culture are so large that “the hole left by his absence” will never be filled. “A true mentor never truly dies,” Bohl said. “They live on in the wisdom they shared, the lives they shaped, and the courage they helped spark in others.”
Ryan is survived by his loving partner, Emily; his daughter Patricia and son-in-law Adam; his daughter Rebecca and son-in-law, Anil; and his beloved grandchildren, Caleb, Amelia, and Rishi. His legacy endures through the continued appreciation of Perique tobacco and the thriving tobacco blends of Daughters & Ryan cherished by enthusiasts worldwide.
George Cassels-Smith, CEO of Tobacco Technology, Inc. and one of Ryan’s oldest friends, called Ryan a jovial soul and curious mind who thrived on nicotine and the tobacco industry. “He saved the Perique tobacco industry in Louisiana and found his love in the fragrant weed, his daughters and Emily,” said Cassels-Smith. “Always one to smoke a fine cigar and talk too much, his laugh was loud and contagious.
“He will be sorely missed on many a fine evening where tobacco is smoked and the industry is discussed. Mark put on a brave face through many bouts with cancer and rarely complained, certainly not about his life’s loves.”
Services will be conducted on Saturday, May 10 at Parrish Funeral home in Selma, North Carolina, with a visitation beginning at 10:00am and funeral service at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park.
The family asks that memorial donations be made to either of the following:
