The Inventor Of The Red Solo Cup Died Proving 2016 Can't Get Any Worse

Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, George Michael and tons of others have fallen victim to 2016.

But there is another little-known genius that this horrendous year has taken from us: the inventor of the Red Solo Cup.

That's right, Robert Leo Hulseman passed away at 84 years on Wednesday, December 21st.

_perezhilton

He started working for his father at the Solo Cup Company when he was 18 years old and then eventually became President and CEO. Hulseman worked his butt off to make Solo one of the most recognizable food packaging brands in the world, growing his dad's company and being regarded as "an innovator, a hands-on manufacturing expert, and an industry pioneer."

And even if you've never worked in the food service industry, you've definitely seen one of these bad boys.

Inventor of iconic red Solo cup dies at 84 https://t.co/yQDml42fPb pic.twitter.com/xgsjX2UbGI

— People Magazine (@people) December 28, 2016

It's a trademark of any party, of frat get-togethers, children's birthdays, picnics, games of beer pong, or stacking them on tops of the faces of passed out friends.

The Red Solo Cup is so iconic, that an Urban Outfitters in Denmark tried selling a pack of them for $14.

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People love the Red Solo Cup so much Toby Keith wrote an idiotic ode to them and it became a top country hit.

RIP INVENTOR OF THE- Red Solo Cup (Unedited Version) https://t.co/DngSu8eBXE via @YouTube

— Abeachdude Com (@Abeachdude) December 29, 2016

And the wonderful red cup was used for so much more than just drinking.

They taped a red solo cup over the wire they put in my breast for direction to remove the lump.… https://t.co/EIS4FlJWGo

— ???Lisa ??? (@byshieldmaiden) December 19, 2016

 

A great example of #FindAWay mentality. @ACEatND #ctel #MacGyver #redsolocup #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/NENbY3DsKX

— Kole Knueppel (@KoleFCKnueppel) December 18, 2016

So when word broke out that the inventor of the legendary beverage conduit passed away, the internet paid tribute.

The inventor of the Red Solo Cup has passed away, but we'll still fill it up! -Taylor https://t.co/w5yJ1JHMx3

— Country 107.7 WDLC (@WDLC1077) December 29, 2016

 

That's it #2016, you are officially worse than #1968.

You killed the Red Solo Cup Man.#FearThe2016 https://t.co/rZBk5OTqcN

— eye95 ن (@eye95) December 29, 2016

 

Sure a ton of celebrities have died in 2016. But the inventor of the Big Mac, general tsos and the red solo cup have too. And that's worse

— ian halloran (@ianh42) December 29, 2016

 

Shout out to you all who partied with #redsolocup #RIP
Inventor of the famous Red Solo Cup https://t.co/PdPAt5oviO via @MailOnline

— D.Cherry (@dcherry1215) December 29, 2016

 

"Inventor of Iconic Red Solo Cup Dies at 84 - https://t.co/Xd37glIBDy" https://t.co/4twbdlKkR8 #CelebritiesNews

— Celebrities Hot News (@Celeb_Hotnews) December 29, 2016

 

Drink from a keg today - Inventor of Iconic 'Red Solo Cup,' RIP Robert Leo Hulseman, Dies https://t.co/ncwUmpa7Ld

— ☆ Steve Levine ☆ (@SteveLevine1) December 29, 2016

I think it's time to start a movement of people posting video tributes to Hulseman of them and their friends playing flip cup in honor of this great man who changed the party landscape for America and the rest of the world, forever. (h/t fox13)

from Distractify http://distractify.com/trending/2016/12/29/red-solo-cup-inventor