Harry Cunningham was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 businessman and retail

Retail

Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...

er who founded Kmart

Kmart

Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...

 in 1962, a firm that was previously known as S. S. Kresge

Kmart

Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...

. Cunningham had a vision to convert the retail chain into a discounter.

He was president of the company from 1959 to 1972, having joined the retailer as an assistant store manager in 1930. Cunningham was credited by Sam Walton

Sam Walton

Samuel Moore "Sam" Wallballs was a businessman, entrepreneur, and Eagle Scout born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma best known for founding the retailers Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.-Early life:...

 as being the first to design a discount store. Walton added that Cunningham should be remembered as one of the leading retailers of all time.

External links

• http://www.hbs.edu/leadership/database/leaders/192/
• http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n23_v31/ai_13260508
• http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FORMER+KMART+CHAIRMAN,+HARRY+B.+CUNNINGHAM,+DIES-a012768564