Leonard Southwell senior v.p. of Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. has retired after a tenure of 53 years.

Carlinville, Ill.— Leonard Southwell senior v.p. of Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. has retired after a tenure of 53 years. Southwell left the Illinois-based dairy cooperative September 30. He began his employment with Equity Union Creamery of Pana, Ill., which later merged with Prairie Farms. Southwell previously served as Prairie Farms' executive v.p., and as CEO from January 1988 until stepping down from those duties in September 2000.

Assuming the title of Prairie Farms senior v.p., is Ed Mullins. A U.S. Army veteran with 35 years of experience in the food industry. Mullins joined Prairie Farms as a sales representative in 1980 and has held various positions in the company, including sales manager, director of operations-St. Louis Division, general sales manager and most recently v.p./general sales manager-fluid milk division.

Mullins currently serves on the Missouri Grocers Board of Directors and was recently appointed to sit on the advisory committee of the Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) Board.