Services Scheduled for Wal-Mart’s Shewmaker

SN STAFF

ROGERS, Ark. — Services will be held here Monday for Jack Shewmaker, an influential former officer and board member of Wal-Mart Stores.

Shewmaker passed away Nov. 17 at age 72 of an apparent heart attack. Shawmaker was hired by Sam Walton as a district manager and rose to become president and chief executive officer of the company in 1978 and vice chairman and chief financial officer in 1984 until retiring in 1988. He served on Wal-Mart’s board of directors from 1977 to 2008.

“He was instrumental in developing our Every Day Low Pricing strategy, which defined our company and set new standards in the retail industry for providing customers with consistent, reliable value,” said Mike Duke, Wal-Mart’s chief executive officer, in a memo to associates.

“He was also a strong advocate of Wal-Mart’s pioneering development of technology. He led the company’s adoption of bar codes and the launch of its first satellite system in 1983, tying together Wal-Mart’s stores, distribution centers and home office.”