Former Supervalu CEO McKay dies at age 96
A memorial service is scheduled this Saturday for George William McKay Sr., a former president and CEO of Supervalu, who died at his home in Ft. Wayne, Ind., on Wednesday at age 96.
January 22, 2014
A memorial service is scheduled this Saturday for George William McKay Sr., a former president and CEO of Supervalu, who died at his home in Ft. Wayne, Ind., on Wednesday at age 96.
McKay launched his career in the grocery business in 1938 with wholesaler G.E. Bursely & Co., which merged with Bluffton Grocery Co. in 1957 and was acquired by Supervalu in 1963. He became EVP of operations at Supervalu before being named president and CEO in 1970. He was also vice chairman from 1973-1979. After retiring, he opened Cub Food stores and other supermarkets in Indiana and Ohio.
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He also was a two-term chairman of the National American Wholesale Grocery Association, and served on its board for 20 years. McKay was also active in S.C.O.R.E. (Service Corps of Retires Executives), which seeks to help people who want to start a business. He was elected to Fort Wayne’s Business Hall of Fame in 1988.
He is surviuved by his three sons, two step-daughters, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 300 West Wayne St. at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to First Presbyterian Church, 300 West Wayne St., or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road.