Commercial Appeal
December 13, 1990
Joseph Reeves Hyde Jr. died Wednesday afternoon at his Memphis home after a lengthy illness. He was 79. Hyde's career was spent with Malone & Hyde Inc., the wholesale grocery company founded in Memphis in 1907 by his father, Joseph Reeves Hyde, and a cousin, Taylor Malone. Malone & Hyde had dramatic growth during Hyde's executive tenure from 1948, when he was named president, to 1972, when he retired as chairman. In the late 1940s, Malone & Hyde posted about $7 million in annual sales and operated in a 65-mile radius of Memphis. By the early 1970s, Malone & Hyde was the largest wholesale food company in the South, supplying groceries from five distribution centers to more than 1,000 independent grocers in 12 states and posting annual sales of nearly $500 million. ''He always attributed his success to his customers,'' said family friend Peter Formanek, president of AutoZone, a former Malone & Hyde company. ''He had a great respect for and faith in the independent businessman.'' Malone & Hyde became a public company in 1961. In 1962, the first five Hyde Park products were introduced. The company opened the first Super D Drug Store in 1966 and, in 1979, started the Auto Shack (Now AutoZone) chain of auto-parts stores. The company purchased the Piggly Wiggly franchise network of independently operated supermarkets in 1982. Joseph R. 'Pitt' Hyde III succeeded his father as company chairman in 1972. Malone & Hyde was taken private in 1984, and in 1988, the company was sold to Fleming Companies, based in Oklahoma City. It operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fleming Companies and employs about 2,100 people in the Memphis area. ''Joe Hyde has been a tremendous influence on my business career for 33 years - he taught me everything I know in this business,'' said John Moll, president of Fleming Companies and former president of Malone & Hyde. Moll was hired in 1957 by Hyde. ''He was one of the best grocerymen and the most humble people I have known. He lived a great life.'' Hyde's philanthropy was widespread, but Memphis University School was the largest recipient. He donated funds to build the school's chapel, library and, most recently, sports center. He also gave teacher grants and student scholarships. ''Since 1954, Joseph R. Hyde Jr.'s contributions to Memphis University School, both in time and resources, have formed the foundation for MUS, which will perpetuate the excellence and quality of the school forever,'' said Kent Wunderlich, chairman of the school's board. Hyde also served as a longtime director of First Tennessee Bank. He was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and Memphis Country Club. His wife, Susan Hightower Hyde, died in 1974. Besides his son, he leaves a daughter, Susan Calhoun of Rosemart, Pa.; a sister, Margaret Hyde of Memphis, and four grandchildren. There will be private graveside services. Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be made to Memphis University School.
(Provided by Carole McCaig)
Joe Reeves Hyde married Sue Hightower, Shelby County, TN., 11/14/1933.
December 13, 1990
Joseph Reeves Hyde Jr. died Wednesday afternoon at his Memphis home after a lengthy illness. He was 79. Hyde's career was spent with Malone & Hyde Inc., the wholesale grocery company founded in Memphis in 1907 by his father, Joseph Reeves Hyde, and a cousin, Taylor Malone. Malone & Hyde had dramatic growth during Hyde's executive tenure from 1948, when he was named president, to 1972, when he retired as chairman. In the late 1940s, Malone & Hyde posted about $7 million in annual sales and operated in a 65-mile radius of Memphis. By the early 1970s, Malone & Hyde was the largest wholesale food company in the South, supplying groceries from five distribution centers to more than 1,000 independent grocers in 12 states and posting annual sales of nearly $500 million. ''He always attributed his success to his customers,'' said family friend Peter Formanek, president of AutoZone, a former Malone & Hyde company. ''He had a great respect for and faith in the independent businessman.'' Malone & Hyde became a public company in 1961. In 1962, the first five Hyde Park products were introduced. The company opened the first Super D Drug Store in 1966 and, in 1979, started the Auto Shack (Now AutoZone) chain of auto-parts stores. The company purchased the Piggly Wiggly franchise network of independently operated supermarkets in 1982. Joseph R. 'Pitt' Hyde III succeeded his father as company chairman in 1972. Malone & Hyde was taken private in 1984, and in 1988, the company was sold to Fleming Companies, based in Oklahoma City. It operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fleming Companies and employs about 2,100 people in the Memphis area. ''Joe Hyde has been a tremendous influence on my business career for 33 years - he taught me everything I know in this business,'' said John Moll, president of Fleming Companies and former president of Malone & Hyde. Moll was hired in 1957 by Hyde. ''He was one of the best grocerymen and the most humble people I have known. He lived a great life.'' Hyde's philanthropy was widespread, but Memphis University School was the largest recipient. He donated funds to build the school's chapel, library and, most recently, sports center. He also gave teacher grants and student scholarships. ''Since 1954, Joseph R. Hyde Jr.'s contributions to Memphis University School, both in time and resources, have formed the foundation for MUS, which will perpetuate the excellence and quality of the school forever,'' said Kent Wunderlich, chairman of the school's board. Hyde also served as a longtime director of First Tennessee Bank. He was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and Memphis Country Club. His wife, Susan Hightower Hyde, died in 1974. Besides his son, he leaves a daughter, Susan Calhoun of Rosemart, Pa.; a sister, Margaret Hyde of Memphis, and four grandchildren. There will be private graveside services. Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be made to Memphis University School.
(Provided by Carole McCaig)
Joe Reeves Hyde married Sue Hightower, Shelby County, TN., 11/14/1933.
Commercial Appeal
December 13, 1990
Joseph Reeves Hyde Jr. died Wednesday afternoon at his Memphis home after a lengthy illness. He was 79. Hyde's career was spent with Malone & Hyde Inc., the wholesale grocery company founded in Memphis in 1907 by his father, Joseph Reeves Hyde, and a cousin, Taylor Malone. Malone & Hyde had dramatic growth during Hyde's executive tenure from 1948, when he was named president, to 1972, when he retired as chairman. In the late 1940s, Malone & Hyde posted about $7 million in annual sales and operated in a 65-mile radius of Memphis. By the early 1970s, Malone & Hyde was the largest wholesale food company in the South, supplying groceries from five distribution centers to more than 1,000 independent grocers in 12 states and posting annual sales of nearly $500 million. ''He always attributed his success to his customers,'' said family friend Peter Formanek, president of AutoZone, a former Malone & Hyde company. ''He had a great respect for and faith in the independent businessman.'' Malone & Hyde became a public company in 1961. In 1962, the first five Hyde Park products were introduced. The company opened the first Super D Drug Store in 1966 and, in 1979, started the Auto Shack (Now AutoZone) chain of auto-parts stores. The company purchased the Piggly Wiggly franchise network of independently operated supermarkets in 1982. Joseph R. 'Pitt' Hyde III succeeded his father as company chairman in 1972. Malone & Hyde was taken private in 1984, and in 1988, the company was sold to Fleming Companies, based in Oklahoma City. It operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fleming Companies and employs about 2,100 people in the Memphis area. ''Joe Hyde has been a tremendous influence on my business career for 33 years - he taught me everything I know in this business,'' said John Moll, president of Fleming Companies and former president of Malone & Hyde. Moll was hired in 1957 by Hyde. ''He was one of the best grocerymen and the most humble people I have known. He lived a great life.'' Hyde's philanthropy was widespread, but Memphis University School was the largest recipient. He donated funds to build the school's chapel, library and, most recently, sports center. He also gave teacher grants and student scholarships. ''Since 1954, Joseph R. Hyde Jr.'s contributions to Memphis University School, both in time and resources, have formed the foundation for MUS, which will perpetuate the excellence and quality of the school forever,'' said Kent Wunderlich, chairman of the school's board. Hyde also served as a longtime director of First Tennessee Bank. He was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and Memphis Country Club. His wife, Susan Hightower Hyde, died in 1974. Besides his son, he leaves a daughter, Susan Calhoun of Rosemart, Pa.; a sister, Margaret Hyde of Memphis, and four grandchildren. There will be private graveside services. Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be made to Memphis University School.
(Provided by Carole McCaig)
Joe Reeves Hyde married Sue Hightower, Shelby County, TN., 11/14/1933.
December 13, 1990
Joseph Reeves Hyde Jr. died Wednesday afternoon at his Memphis home after a lengthy illness. He was 79. Hyde's career was spent with Malone & Hyde Inc., the wholesale grocery company founded in Memphis in 1907 by his father, Joseph Reeves Hyde, and a cousin, Taylor Malone. Malone & Hyde had dramatic growth during Hyde's executive tenure from 1948, when he was named president, to 1972, when he retired as chairman. In the late 1940s, Malone & Hyde posted about $7 million in annual sales and operated in a 65-mile radius of Memphis. By the early 1970s, Malone & Hyde was the largest wholesale food company in the South, supplying groceries from five distribution centers to more than 1,000 independent grocers in 12 states and posting annual sales of nearly $500 million. ''He always attributed his success to his customers,'' said family friend Peter Formanek, president of AutoZone, a former Malone & Hyde company. ''He had a great respect for and faith in the independent businessman.'' Malone & Hyde became a public company in 1961. In 1962, the first five Hyde Park products were introduced. The company opened the first Super D Drug Store in 1966 and, in 1979, started the Auto Shack (Now AutoZone) chain of auto-parts stores. The company purchased the Piggly Wiggly franchise network of independently operated supermarkets in 1982. Joseph R. 'Pitt' Hyde III succeeded his father as company chairman in 1972. Malone & Hyde was taken private in 1984, and in 1988, the company was sold to Fleming Companies, based in Oklahoma City. It operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fleming Companies and employs about 2,100 people in the Memphis area. ''Joe Hyde has been a tremendous influence on my business career for 33 years - he taught me everything I know in this business,'' said John Moll, president of Fleming Companies and former president of Malone & Hyde. Moll was hired in 1957 by Hyde. ''He was one of the best grocerymen and the most humble people I have known. He lived a great life.'' Hyde's philanthropy was widespread, but Memphis University School was the largest recipient. He donated funds to build the school's chapel, library and, most recently, sports center. He also gave teacher grants and student scholarships. ''Since 1954, Joseph R. Hyde Jr.'s contributions to Memphis University School, both in time and resources, have formed the foundation for MUS, which will perpetuate the excellence and quality of the school forever,'' said Kent Wunderlich, chairman of the school's board. Hyde also served as a longtime director of First Tennessee Bank. He was a member of Second Presbyterian Church and Memphis Country Club. His wife, Susan Hightower Hyde, died in 1974. Besides his son, he leaves a daughter, Susan Calhoun of Rosemart, Pa.; a sister, Margaret Hyde of Memphis, and four grandchildren. There will be private graveside services. Forest Hill Funeral Home Midtown is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be made to Memphis University School.
(Provided by Carole McCaig)
Joe Reeves Hyde married Sue Hightower, Shelby County, TN., 11/14/1933.
