Skip navigation

OBITUARY: JACK ECKERD

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Services were scheduled here today for Jack Eckerd, founder of the drug store chain that bears his name. Eckerd died last week at age 91 of complications from pneumonia, his family said.ry, including senior citizen discounts and two-for-one photo processing. He worked with Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Supermarkets to locate Eckerd stores in centers anchored by the supermarket. Eckerd

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Services were scheduled here today for Jack Eckerd, founder of the drug store chain that bears his name. Eckerd died last week at age 91 of complications from pneumonia, his family said.

ry, including senior citizen discounts and two-for-one photo processing. He worked with Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Supermarkets to locate Eckerd stores in centers anchored by the supermarket. Eckerd left the retail business to enter politics in 1974, but returned as an Eckerd director in 1979 before retiring in 1986.

Eckerd's company was sold to JC Penney, Plano, Texas, in 1987. That company last month announced it would sell Eckerd stores to competitors CVS, Woonsocket, R.I., and Jean Contu Group, Longeuil, Quebec.