HOUSTON, March 7, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- John F. Baugh, the founder of SYSCO Corporation (NYSE:SYY), the $33 billion Fortune 100 global foodservice marketer and distributor, passed away March 5, 2007. His passing was 37 years, almost to the date, of the corporation's initial public offering on March 3, 1970.
Richard J. Schnieders, SYSCO's chairman, CEO and president, said, "His passing is indeed a profound loss. First and foremost, John Baugh was a man of commitment -- to his wife, his daughter, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to his faith, his community and to the company he founded that touches so many lives today. A true visionary, a legendary entrepreneur, an inspiration to friends and colleagues and a generous philanthropist, his impeccable integrity and generosity of spirit have imprinted indelibly the character of our organization."
John F. Baugh was born February 29, 1916 in Waco, TX. Growing up in the Depression era, Baugh began his lifelong passion with the food industry at an A&P grocery store as a stock boy at the age of 13. Eventually, he became a store manager and in 1946, he and his wife Eula Mae founded a new company, Zero Foods, and began selling and distributing frozen foods to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, fast-food stores and grocery chains.
In 1969, Americans were eating out more than ever and industry studies predicted that half of all meals would be eaten away from home by 2000. Women who had entered the workforce during World War II were continuing to work; with less time to cook they wanted more food prepared by others. Baugh envisioned a national foodservice distribution organization and shared ideas with industry friends across the country.
His dream became a reality when Zero Foods and eight other companies joined together to form SYSCO (an acronym for SYstems and Services COmpany). At the initial public offering on March 3, 1970, the nine companies had aggregate sales of $115 million and served a $35 billion market. In 1977 SYSCO became the leading foodservice supplier in North America and has since maintained this position. In 1988, an acquisition of its next largest competitor gave the company national coverage. SYSCO's network of 172 locations and approximately 50,000 employees now serves an industry in excess of $200 billion. Mr. Baugh published a book about the company, "The SYSCO Story ... Thus Far!" in 2003.
Mr. Baugh served as chairman of SYSCO's Board of Directors until 1985, after which he was senior chairman through 1997. He has been director, president and chairman of several national food industry organizations. After receiving the Heritage Award of the Food Industry in 1976, he became the first person elected to its Hall of Fame. In 1988 he received the Herbert Hoover Award from the National-American Wholesale Grocers Association and later was the first person to be inducted into the National Frozen Food Association's Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1991. Mr. Baugh was a founding trustee of Houston Baptist University and served as a director of the Baptist Foundation of Texas for more than 25 years, including service as its chairman. He and his wife, Eula Mae, were substantial supporters of Baylor University, in Waco, TX, where he served as a Regent.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 8, 2007 at 1:00 pm (CST) at Tallowood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowood, Houston, TX 77024.
SYSCO is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. For the calendar year 2006, the company generated $33.9 billion in sales. For more information about SYSCO visit www.sysco.com.