Melvin J. Gordon, who ran Tootsie Roll Industries for more than 50 years, died on Wednesday in Boston. He was 95.

He served as chief executive until his death, which was announced by the company.

Together with his wife, Ellen, Mr. Gordon maintained an iron grip on the company, which is based in Chicago. He expanded its product line, buying up other brands like Charleston Chew, Junior Mints, Sugar Babies, Dubble Bubble and Charms Blow Pops.

The company is publicly traded, but the Gordons ran it as if it were privately held, making it difficult for investors to get information. Its quarterly earnings typically were badly scanned copies of PDF files, according to a profile in The Wall Street Journal, and it held no calls with investment analysts to discuss its performance.

Its dual-share structure, which gave the Gordons control, frustrated even the most sharp-elbowed investors, many of whom thought the company was worth more in pieces. They also accused the Gordons of using company funds to support an extravagant lifestyle.