T. Carl Badgett, CAS, a member of the PPAI board from 1978 to 1982 and an inaugural PPAI Fellows program recipient, passed away in Miramar Beach, Florida, on January 23. He was 88.
Born in Tennessee and a graduate of Auburn University, Badgett spent time in the U.S. Air Force and the restaurant business before joining the promotional products industry. Fort Madison, Iowa-based Sheaffer Pen Company hired Badgett to help establish its specialty advertising business, eventually relocating him to Dallas, Texas. After 15 years with Sheaffer Pen, Badgett bought a promotional products company in 1973 and relocated it to Houston, Texas. He sold that company in 1999 and retired in Miramar Beach.
Badgett was a member of the Executives Association of Houston and was a founding member of the Southwest Specialty Advertising Association. He served as PPAI’s vice chair in 1982.
Badgett is survived by his wife, Dona; his daughter Carla de Varona and her husband, Jack; his grandchildren, Cecily and Cara; and grandchildren by marriage, Victoria, Jasmine, Madalyn and Quinn de Varona.
A memorial service was held February 3 at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Badgett’s name be made to the Emerald Coast Theater Company, the Wounded Warriors Project or a charity of choice.
