William H. Dyer Jr.

ALAMO, Calif. — A memorial service was scheduled here on Jan. 5 for William H. Dyer Jr., former chairman and chief executive officer of Lucky Stores and one of the industry's earliest adherents of everyday low pricing and “discount” merchandising. Dyer, who died Dec. 7 at age 89, started his career with Dollar Market Stores in 1946. After that chain was acquired by Foremost Dairies in 1956, Dyer was named vice president and general manager. Foremost owned 25% of Lucky Stores, and in 1957 Dyer was named vice president of Lucky. In 1959, he was named regional manager of Lucky, in charge of all food operations — a position from which he implemented the EDLP strategy that catapulted Lucky into being one of the top-volume chains on the West Coast for decades. Dyer succeeded Gerald Awes as Lucky president in 1967 and as chairman and CEO in 1971. Dyer retired from Lucky in 1974, though he remained a director until 1987. He is survived by two sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.