From Wikipedia, which I now use in place of a memory:
"One of McManus' friends, restaurateur James Moore, claimed he was the inspiration for the character Dinty Moore, the owner of Jiggs' favorite tavern. James Moore changed his name to Dinty and founded a real-life restaurant chain. The restaurant owner, however, did not begin the successful line of Dinty Moore canned goods marketed today by Hormel."
I think Hormel may have just swiped the name a la the Baby Ruth candy bar -- look that one up on Wikipedia sometime! -- rather than licensing it like the Duncan Hines brand.