LAS VEGAS — It was “hail and farewell” to Thomas K. Zaucha at the annual convention of the National Grocers Association here as NGA's co-founder and leader for the 28-plus years of its history prepares to step down in June. Zaucha's pending retirement virtually overshadowed appearances by a former president — George W. Bush — and a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — Gen. Peter Pace — as independent operators and their wholesalers paid numerous tributes to Zaucha throughout the meeting.
