Jack Eckerd
Encyclopedia
Jack Eckerd was an American businessman who was a major innovator in drugstore retailing, and a public servant, politician and philanthropist.
and the Boeing School of Aeronautics. He was a pilot for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, receiving three Air Medals and the Presidential Unit Citation. He was also involved in poitics and served in both state and national government for 30 years. In 1968, he developed the first residential adolescent treatment program for troubled boys, founded in Brooksville, Florida. Eckerd believed children needed a holistic approach that provided long lasting change, different from the primary treatment option currently available, which was hospitalization. This was the beginning of Eckerd's investment in our at-risk youth. His life touched more than 60,000 at-risk kids in the need of challenge, reassurance and love.
Starting in the 1950s, he transformed his family's retail drugstore business into one of the leading self-service drugstore chains in the United States, Eckerd Drugs. His personal finances were estimated in 1975 by Forbes Magazine at $150 million.
Jack Eckerd's family includes seven children—two from a previous marriage, plus three adopted and two of his own after his marriage to Ruth Eckerd (1922-July 18, 2006)http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1080593561.html?dids=1080593561:1080593561&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+20%2C+2006&author=CRAIG+BASSE%2C+JOHN+FLEMING&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.A&desc=Philanthropist+of+grace+and+style. There were seventeen grandchildren, and, as of 2006, five great-grandchildren.
A businessman to the core, Eckerd always introduced himself as "Jack Eckerd—Clearwater, Florida". He died of pneumonia
in 2004, aged 91, leaving a legacy of philanthropy.
in 1898. After serving as a pilot in World War II
, Jack Eckerd started a phenomenal expansion of the chain by buying three stores in Florida
in 1952. The company went public as Jack Eckerd Corp. in 1961 and when Eckerd sold his shares in 1986, there were about 1,500 stores.
The chain was later sold to J.C. Penney
, who built the number of stores to 2,600 before selling to rivals CVS
and Jean Coutu
. Stores in ten states from Florida west to Arizona became CVS; the stores from Georgia north to New York continued as Eckerd Corporation, run by Jean Coutu's US arm along with its New England-based Brooks
chain.
In July 2007 Coutu's 1,549 Eckerd stores across the Mid-Atlantic and New England became part of the Rite Aid
drugstore chain, finally ending more than a century of the Eckerd name in drug retailing.
by President Gerald R. Ford. In the President’s words, “Jack ran GSA cleaner than a hound’s tooth.” Ford also named Eckerd to serve on the U.S.O. Board of Governors. President Ronald Reagan
later named him to the Grace Commission’s private sector panel on government cost control. In 1981 Governor Bob Graham
named Eckerd chairman of Florida's Prison Rehabilitative Industries & Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE), a unique private sector board that operates all Florida Prison industries.
(losing in 1978 general election to Democrat Bob Graham
and in a 1970 primary to Claude Kirk, who ultimately lost to Democrat Reubin Askew). Eckerd ran for the U.S. Senate
in 1974 (losing to Democrat Richard Stone).
, analyzing the decline of the work ethic in America and offering solutions.
Biography
Eckerd was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1913 and graduated from Culver Military AcademyCulver Academies
The Culver Academies is a college preparatory boarding school and summer camp in the United States. The Culver Academies is composed of three entities: Culver Military Academy for boys, Culver Girls Academy , and the Culver Summer Schools and Camps . Collectively known as Culver Academies located...
and the Boeing School of Aeronautics. He was a pilot for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, receiving three Air Medals and the Presidential Unit Citation. He was also involved in poitics and served in both state and national government for 30 years. In 1968, he developed the first residential adolescent treatment program for troubled boys, founded in Brooksville, Florida. Eckerd believed children needed a holistic approach that provided long lasting change, different from the primary treatment option currently available, which was hospitalization. This was the beginning of Eckerd's investment in our at-risk youth. His life touched more than 60,000 at-risk kids in the need of challenge, reassurance and love.
Starting in the 1950s, he transformed his family's retail drugstore business into one of the leading self-service drugstore chains in the United States, Eckerd Drugs. His personal finances were estimated in 1975 by Forbes Magazine at $150 million.
Jack Eckerd's family includes seven children—two from a previous marriage, plus three adopted and two of his own after his marriage to Ruth Eckerd (1922-July 18, 2006)http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1080593561.html?dids=1080593561:1080593561&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+20%2C+2006&author=CRAIG+BASSE%2C+JOHN+FLEMING&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.A&desc=Philanthropist+of+grace+and+style. There were seventeen grandchildren, and, as of 2006, five great-grandchildren.
A businessman to the core, Eckerd always introduced himself as "Jack Eckerd—Clearwater, Florida". He died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in 2004, aged 91, leaving a legacy of philanthropy.
Eckerd Drugs
The Eckerd chain, oldest of the major drugstore companies in the U.S., was founded by Jack's father, J. Milton Eckerd, in Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
in 1898. After serving as a pilot in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Jack Eckerd started a phenomenal expansion of the chain by buying three stores in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1952. The company went public as Jack Eckerd Corp. in 1961 and when Eckerd sold his shares in 1986, there were about 1,500 stores.
The chain was later sold to J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
, who built the number of stores to 2,600 before selling to rivals CVS
CVS Corporation
CVS Pharmacy, or simply CVS, is the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States , with over 7,000 stores in 41 states and Puerto Rico...
and Jean Coutu
Jean Coutu Group
The Jean Coutu Group Inc. is a Canadian drugstore chain headquartered in Longueuil, Quebec. It has more than 360 franchised locations in New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec under the PJC Jean Coutu, PJC Clinique and PJC Santé Beauté banners...
. Stores in ten states from Florida west to Arizona became CVS; the stores from Georgia north to New York continued as Eckerd Corporation, run by Jean Coutu's US arm along with its New England-based Brooks
Brooks
-Places:Canada*Brooks, AlbertaUnited States*Brooks, Arkansas*Brooks, California*Brooks, Georgia*Brooks, Kentucky*Brooks, Maine*Brooks, Minnesota*Brooks, Oregon*Brooks Township, Michigan...
chain.
In July 2007 Coutu's 1,549 Eckerd stores across the Mid-Atlantic and New England became part of the Rite Aid
Rite Aid
Rite Aid is a drugstore chain in the United States and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, near Camp Hill. Rite Aid is the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast and the third largest drugstore chain in the U.S....
drugstore chain, finally ending more than a century of the Eckerd name in drug retailing.
Public service
In 1975 Eckerd was appointed administrator of the General Services AdministrationGeneral Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
by President Gerald R. Ford. In the President’s words, “Jack ran GSA cleaner than a hound’s tooth.” Ford also named Eckerd to serve on the U.S.O. Board of Governors. President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
later named him to the Grace Commission’s private sector panel on government cost control. In 1981 Governor Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
named Eckerd chairman of Florida's Prison Rehabilitative Industries & Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE), a unique private sector board that operates all Florida Prison industries.
Political campaigns
In the 1970s Eckerd attempted to enter politics as a Republican, running unsuccessful campaigns twice for the governorship of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
(losing in 1978 general election to Democrat Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
and in a 1970 primary to Claude Kirk, who ultimately lost to Democrat Reubin Askew). Eckerd ran for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1974 (losing to Democrat Richard Stone).
Philanthropy
With the millions he made, Eckerd became a philanthropist.- Ruth Eckerd HallRuth Eckerd HallRuth Eckerd Hall is a performing arts venue, located in Clearwater, Florida, in the Tampa Bay area and is part of the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts....
, a 2,100-seat regional performing arts venue for concerts, plays and civic events in Clearwater, FloridaClearwater, FloridaClearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
, was named for his wife Ruth Eckerd. It was designed by the Arizona-based Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and opened in 1983. - Florida Presbyterian College in St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, changed its name to Eckerd CollegeEckerd CollegeEckerd College is a private 4-year coeducational liberal arts college at the southernmost tip of St. Petersburg, Florida, in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.- Campus :...
in 1972 following a $12.5 million contribution from Jack, who also served for a time as its interim president. - In 1968, Jack and Ruth Eckerd founded Eckerd Youth Alternatives, a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping youth and families succeed, using an Outdoor Therapeutic Camp model first deployed by another firm in Texas. With the success of E-How-Kee in Brooksville, FloridaBrooksville, FloridaBrooksville is an incorporated city in Hernando County, Florida, in the United States. It is the county seat of Hernando County. It is a suburban city included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, EYA (at the urging of the State of Florida) increased the number of programs and expanded into several states. EYA serves more than 12,000 youth annually through a continuum of about 40 behavioral health and child welfare services, ranging from early intervention & prevention to community-based interventions, residential treatment, and aftercare. Sites are currently (as of 2010) in nine states: Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Vermont and Tennessee. - National Foundation for Youth, a philanthropic organization begun in 1994 to support programs benefitting troubled young people, was later merged into the work of Eckerd Youth Alternatives.
Writing
In 1987, Jack wrote his autobiography with Paul Conn, Eckerd: Finding the Right Prescription. This was followed in 1990 by Enough is Enough, a booklet offering solutions to the nation’s severe prison overcrowding crisis. In 1991 he co-authored Why America Doesn’t Work with Charles ColsonCharles Colson
Charles Wendell "Chuck" Colson is a Christian leader, cultural commentator, and former Special Counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973....
, analyzing the decline of the work ethic in America and offering solutions.
External links
- St. Petersburg Times obituary
- Ruth Eckerd dies - St. Petersburg TimesSt. Petersburg TimesThe St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
- Eckerd.org