Myrtle Young

Myrtle Nola Young (April 1, 1924^[1] – August 9, 2014) was an American potato chip collector whose collection caught the eye of national news and talk shows.

Collecting

The Kentucky-born Young, while working as a potato chip inspector for Seyfert Foods in Fort Wayne, Indiana, selected potato chips that reminded her of something or someone for her collection.^[2] She started her collection in 1987 when she saved a chip that looked like a face from the conveyor belt.^[3] At the time of her death she was said to have between 250 and 300 chips in her collection.^[4]

Television appearances

She appeared with her chips on Happy's Place, The Tonight Show,^[5] and Late Night with David Letterman.^[6][7] When she appeared on The Tonight Show in 1987, her back was turned and host Johnny Carson pretended to crunch into one of her prized chips; in 1999, TV Guide named it as the funniest moment ever on television,^[8] and was included in a collection of Johnny Carson's greatest moments.^[9]

She also appeared on The Chevy Chase Show, Bill Cosby's You Bet Your Life, Geraldo and Vicki! as well as appearances on shows in Amsterdam and London.^[8]

Later life

Young later became part of an advertising campaign for Seyfert's and at one point was named to a trade delegation from Fort Wayne that toured the Far East.^[10]

After her retirement, Young continued to serve as a tour guide at the potato chip factory and showed off her collection of chips resembling Bob Hope, Rodney Dangerfield, animals and other curiosities until the plant closed in 2000.^[10]

Death

She died in Fort Wayne, Indiana, aged 90, on August 9, 2014, from congestive heart failure.^[11][12]