|
|
Jack Henry Brown, Jr., Supermarket Industry Pioneer & Executive
m. 4 Sep 1937 - Jack Henry Brown, Jr., Supermarket Industry Pioneer & Executive1938 - 2016
Facts and Events
About Jack Brown
Jack Henry Brown, Jr. was born on Flag Day, 14 June 1938 in Victorville, San Bernardino County, California, the only child of Jack Henry Brown, Sr. (1890-1946) and his wife Rose "Rosie" Delgado (1918-2011). Jack Brown Sr. was a highly respected Deputy Sheriff in San Bernardino County who died with Jack Jr. was just eight years old.
At just age 13, Jack started his supermarket career, working as a box boy at Berk’s Market Place in San Bernardino to help out his widowed mother Rose, while attending school. In 1956, Jack graduated from San Bernardino High School, played football during his junior and senior years and sang in the school choir in his senior year. He later went on to attend San Bernardino Valley College, San Jose State University and the University of California at Los Angeles, UCLA.
As a young man, Jack Brown served his country in the Naval Reserves from 1956-1962, was called to active duty in 1959 with the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy until his discharge in 1962.
After his discharge from the military, Brown served in leadership roles with a variety of companies including Sage's Complete Markets, Marsh Supermarkets, Pantry Markets and Hinky Dinky. In 1981 he joined Stater Brothers Markets as President and CEO. Stater Bros. Markets was founded in 1936 when Cleo and Leo Stater (with help from younger brother Lavoy) when they purchased the original Stater Bros. Market from W.A. Davis.
In 1983, Brown survived a proxy fight with New York investors who tried to oust him from his role as President and buy out Brown's ownership stake in the chain. With the help of several of investors, local government officials and many of Stater Bros. employees, after a four-month battle for control of Stater Bros., Brown's investment company backing him concluded with La Cadena Investments winning on all issues. Jack Brown was shortly-thereafter elected Chairman of the Board, and a year later, Stater Bros. became a private company. Brown also steered Stater Bros. through a tumultuous strike-lockout affecting Southern California grocers in 2003 and 2004.
Under Brown's leadership, Stater Bros. grew to 170 supermarket locations, approximately 18,000 employees and annual sales of over $4 billion, and is now the largest privately-owned supermarket chain in Southern California as well as largest private employer in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.  Jack Brown received many honors during his career and lifetime. In 2008, he received the "Semper Fidelis Award" for his military service and support by the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Brown had established Stater Brothers support for several projects that supported the military, such as the Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee and the cemetery’s National Medal of Honor Memorial and their National POW/MIA Memorial, dedicated in 2005, among many other events and military causes that he supported through his lifetime.
On November 13, 2016, Jack Brown died at the age of 78, and was survived by his wife Debbie, and three daughters: J. Kathleen Smith (Michael Smith), Cara Hoffman (Scott Hoffman) and Melissa Koss (Pete Koss). He had seven grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Colleen, Caden, Dylan, Julianna, Jack Ryan and Emma. Jack was a true American patriot and has been deeply missed by all that knew him, especially the Stater Bros. family that will never forget his leadership, dedication and loyalty throughout his lifetime.
Image Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 San Bernardino County Sun (Newspaper).
Stater Bros. leader Jack Brown dies at 78
Jack H. Brown Jr., executive chairman of Stater Bros. Markets, died Sunday, according to San Bernardino-based Stater Bros. He was 78.
Brown died at 10:45 p.m., surrounded by his entire family, according to a company statement.
“Grief is not a strong enough word to describe what the Stater Bros. ‘Family’ feels,” Stater Bros. President and CEO Pete Van Helden said in the statement. “Jack touched every one of us in a very personal way, and it is that legacy that we must carry forward. He loved the business, his company and each one of us.”
The Stater Bros. board elected Brown president in April 1981. At the time, the chain had 92 stores with annual sales of $500 million. Under Brown’s leadership, the chain grew from 69 to 169 stores.
In December, Brown stepped down as chief executive officer and took on the role of executive chairman.
Brown, a native of San Bernardino, was known for his charitable work on behalf of the community.
Brown was a model citizen when it came to his employees, his customers and his community, said Carl Dameron, who works closely with Salvation Army of San Bernardino and other groups that he said benefited greatly from Stater Bros.’ generosity.
“Jack Brown’s death is a great loss to our community,” Dameron said. “He was someone who believed in the best of us and he contributed to our economic welfare, our social welfare and he’s also a person who constantly said positive things. He upped the morale of our community.”
Brown was passionate about the city of San Bernardino.
He was born and raised along San Bernardino’s stretch of Route 66, and grew up to be a beloved philanthropist, supporting a variety of charitable organizations in the community — from Redlands’ annual Believe Walk for Inland Women Fighting Cancer to the Salvation Army in San Bernardino.
“He could have moved the home base for Stater Bros. out of the Inland Empire to Orange County or anywhere else, and he didn’t,” Dameron said. “He re-committed to here.”
His well-known community involvement famously embraced San Bernardino’s car culture, and Stater Bros. Markets became the title sponsor of the Route 66 Rendezvous between 1997 and 2013.
A Navy veteran, Brown was fiercely patriotic, showcasing memorabilia honoring squadrons from the former Norton Air Force Base at the Stater Bros. corporate offices at San Bernardino International Airport.
Brown is survived by his cherished wife, Debbie, three beloved daughters; J. Kathleen Smith (Michael Smith), Cara Hoffman (Scott Hoffman) and Melissa Koss (Pete Koss). He had seven grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Colleen, Caden, Dylan, Julianna, Jack Ryan and Emma.
His burial will be private, for family only, with a memorial to follow at a later date, according to the statement.
http://www.sbsun.com/obituaries/20161114/stater-bros-leader-jack-brown-dies-at-78
- Supermarket News. (Penton).
Stater Bros.' Brown dies at 78
Longtime CEO noted for community outreach, service
Jack H. Brown, the longtime CEO of Stater Bros. Markets and an influential 65-year veteran of the supermarket industry noted for his generosity and support for local charities, passed away Sunday at age 78, the company said Monday.
Brown had served as president and CEO of San Bernardino, Calif.-based Stater Bros. for 35 years and as its chairman for 30 before passing the CEO title to Pete Van Helden earlier this year and serving since as the chain's executive chairman. Under his watch, Stater Bros. grew to a $4.2 billion company with 168 stores known for their service and attention to local community tastes.
“Grief is not a strong enough word to describe what the Stater Bros. family feels,” Van Helden said in a statement. “Jack touched every one of us in a very personal way, and it is that legacy that we must carry forward. He loved the business, his company and each one of us."
Brown was a proud U.S. Navy veteran who served on active duty with the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy during the Vietnam era and was an unparalleled supporter of the U.S. military and fellow veterans, the company said. In 2004, he received the “Friend of the Veteran Award” from the Riverside National Cemetery’s Veterans’ Advisory Committee for his continued support of volunteer services to veterans and their families. Brown also received the “Patriot Award” in 2011, the highest award the Congressional Medal of Honor Society can bestow upon an individual.
Brown was one of 10 distinguished Americans to receive the 1992 Horatio Alger Award in Washington, D.C., in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the “American Dream.”
Brown has received countless awards for his contributions to the supermarket industry. In 2001, Brown received the California Grocers Association Hall of Achievement Award for a lifetime of dedication to the grocery industry, and in 2005, he received the prestigious Sidney R. Rabb Award from Food Marketing Institute, the trade organization's highest award. Stater Bros. was named SN's Community Service Award winner in 2010.
Earlier this year FMI honored Brown with its Glen P. Woodward Award for Public Affairs, and the University of California at San Bernardino named its College of Business after Brown after receiving what the company called the largest single gift in the history of institution from Brown.
A native of San Bernardino, Brown began his supermarket career as a box boy at Berk’s Market Spot in San Bernardino at the age of 13. Following his stint in the military he served leadership roles with a variety of companies including Sage's Complete Markets, Marsh Supermarkets, Pantry Markets and Hinky Dinky. He joined Stater Bros. in 1981.
In 1983, Brown survived a proxy fight with New York investors who tried to buy out Brown's ownership stake in the chain. Brown also steered Stater Bros. through a tumultuous strike-lockout affecting Southern California grocers in 2003 and 2004.
Brown is survived by his wife Debbie, and three daughters: J. Kathleen Smith (Michael Smith), Cara Hoffman (Scott Hoffman) and Melissa Koss (Pete Koss). He had seven grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Colleen, Caden, Dylan, Julianna, Jack Ryan and Emma. His burial will be private for family only with a memorial to follow at a later date.
http://supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/stater-bros-brown-dies-78
- ↑ California, United States. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. (Sacramento, CA, USA: California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.).
Name: Jack Henry Brown
Birth Date: 14 Jun 1938
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Delgado
Birth County: San Bernardino
- The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, California).
The life and times of Jack Brown Jr.
From his early teenage years, Brown was drawn to the grocery business
Key moments in the life of Jack Brown, who built Stater Bros. grocery into a major Inland employer and committed the company to altruistic endeavors:
Aug. 17, 1936: Cleo and Leo Stater open the first Stater Bros. grocery store in Yucaipa.
June 14, 1938: Jack H. Brown Jr. is born on Flag Day.
1941: “Big” Jack H. Brown Sr., San Bernardino County chief deputy sheriff, takes his son Jack Jr. to meet boxing legend Joe Louis in Victorville.
Oct. 25, 1946: “Big” Jack H. Brown Sr. dies.
1951: Thirteen-year-old Jack works as a box boy at Berk’s Market Place in San Bernardino to help out his widowed mother Rose.
1956: Graduates from San Bernardino High School, goes on to attend San Bernardino Valley College, San Jose State University and UCLA.
1960s: Rises in the ranks at Sage’s Complete Markets, an Inland chain. Becomes vice president of sales and merchandising at age 28.
1970s: Serves as corporate vice president of Marsh Supermarkets, Indianapolis.
1981: Returns to San Bernardino from American Community Stores in Omaha to become president and chief executive officer of Stater Bros.
1986: Becomes chairman of the board at Stater Bros.
1992: Receives Horatio Alger award in Washington D.C.
1997: Stater Bros. becomes the title sponsor of San Bernardino's Route 66 Rendezvous.
2007: Stater Bros. moves headquarters from Colton to San Bernardino.
Feb. 26, 2011: Receives the Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Aug. 20, 2011: Rose Brown dies at 91.
2015: Brown becomes executive chairman of Stater Bros. Pete Van Helden becomes president and chief executive officer.
2016: Cal State University establishes the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino.
http://www.pe.com/articles/san-818513-jack-brown.html
- ↑ Find A Grave.
- United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).
Name: Jack Brown
Age: 2
Estimated birth year: abt 1938
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Upland, San Bernardino, California
Street: Eighth Avenue
House Number: 513
Sheet Number: 63A
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: None
Household Members: Name Age
John H Brown 46
Rosie Brown 21
Jack Brown 2
Natalie Vasquez 17 [Maid]
- USNavy.com.
Naval Reserve Veteran Honored by Corps
A former member of the Naval Reserve, Jack H. Brown, is now chairman and CEO of Stater Brothers Supermarkets. He was awarded the highest honor possible from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the 2008, “Semper Fidelis Award.”
The award was given at the Foudation’s Annual Ball on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Brown served in the Naval Reserves from 1956-1962. He was called to active duty in 1959 and served in the Pacific Fleet until his honorable discharge in 1962.
After his discharge from the military, Brown returned to his work in the supermarket industry. He was promoted quickly, and received increasing responsibility. In 1981 he joined Stater Brothers Supermarkets as President and CEO, and has led the company since.
Stater Brothers promotes American values and supports the military in many ways. Over the years, Brown has established Stater Brothers support for several projects that support the military, such as the Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee and the cemetery’s National Medal of Honor Memorial and their National POW/MMIA Memorial, dedicated in 2005.
The Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA also receives generous support from the Stater Brothers supermarket company.
http://www.usnavy.com/naval-reserve-veteran-honored-by-corps/
|
|
