In Memoriam: IGA Chairman Emeritus Tom Haggai

The grocery trade joins the extended IGA family in mourning the passing of IGA chairman emeritus and industry icon Dr. Thomas S. Haggai, who died at 89 on March 26 from natural causes after a brief decline.

Haggai first became involved with IGA as a board member in 1972 and spent more than 40 years in service to IGA in a variety of roles, including nonexecutive chairman and later chairman and CEO. Haggai stepped down from his daily duties at IGA and was named chairman emeritus in 2016, but he remained connected with the organization’s progress and retailers until his death.

Haggai was the first person from outside of the industry to hold a position on the IGA board. A Baptist minister, radio commentator and public speaker, Haggai was a frequent speaker at IGA’s national conventions and regional meetings during the 1960s. After serving on IGA’s board for four years, Haggai was named nonexecutive chairman in 1976.

He became IGA’s president and CEO in 1986 and led the charge to organize the company more effectively and build a systemwide image of higher quality and service. He tightened restrictions on stores belonging to IGA, weeding out many low-volume stores that did not meet IGA’s new branding standards.

He was also responsible for helping IGA draw international retailers to its base of retailers, which galvanized in 1988 when C. ltoh (now ltochu) of Tokyo, Japan, joined IGA, followed by Davids Holdings Pty. Ltd. of Australia. Under Haggai’s leadership during the 1990s, IGA’s international growth soared with Papua New Guinea, Korea, China, the Caribbean, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Africa among the countries joining the alliance. Today, IGA continues to grow globally and is in more than 30 countries around the globe.

Another of Haggai’s key accomplishments includes the development in 1986 of the Red Oval Family Partner program, an alliance of the industry’s premier food manufacturers and service providers and associations that partner with IGA to provide extensive resources that are unavailable to other independents.

Haggai also initiated the creation of IGA’s “Hometown Proud” tag line, which speaks to its retailers’ commitment to community involvement and personal service.

He received numerous awards throughout his life, including the FMI's Herbert Hoover and Sidney R. Rabb awards in honor of his longtime humanitarian and philanthropic service in the food retail industry.

Haggai was also recipient of many teaching honors throughout his career, including earning honorary degrees from High Point University; Salem College; Charleston Southern University; Pepperdine University; Alderson Broaddus College; Campbell University; Boston University; Northwood University; Lindenwood University; Missouri Western State College; Virginia Union; Doane College; and North Greenville University.  

Haggai is also remembered for sharing his favorite prayer with friends and associates. “Since 12 years of age, my every morning prayer is, ‘O God, don’t let me die until I’m dead.’ ”