Dick Graves was raised in Chillicothe, Missouri. His father John Graves started John Graves Quality Meats in 1947. Dick grew up immersed in the foodservice industry, much like his children. Dick received his Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management at Michigan State University in 1962 and received his MBA in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Missouri in 1964. Dick began Graves Menu Maker Foods in 1968. Soon after that Graves Menu Maker Foods acquired Mr. G’s Quality Cut Meats from his father. In 1978 Graves Menu Maker Foods became a broadline food service company, and in 1999 Graves Menu Maker Foods purchased Austin Coffee Service. In 2017 Graves Menu Maker Foods rebranded to Graves Foods.
