John F. Kilmartin
Encyclopedia
John Francis “Jack” Kilmartin, Jr. (1921 - July 30, 2004) was the chief executive officer of Mervyn’s Department Stores
.
, and grew up in Topeka, Kansas
. Kilmartin graduated from Washburn University
where he was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
. During his junior year there he was recognized as one of the ten most outstanding men on campus with his selection for induction into the school’s prestigious Sagamore Society
.
His first wife, Irma Lee Kilmartin, preceded him in death. His second wife Patti survived him. In all, Kilmartin was the father of four sons and five daughters. At the time of his death, they counted 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
, Kilmartin began a 40-year career in the retail sector.
When Dayton Hudson purchased the 55 Mervyn's Departments Stores in 1978, Kilmartin took the rein
s as the company's CEO. Backed by Dayton Hudson's financial resources, Mervyn's embarked on a remarkable course of expansion. By the mid-1980s, the chain was operating 148 stores. In 1984, Mervyn's opened nine stores in Texas—its first adventure outside the western United States—and posted a $223.3 million profit on sales of more than $2 billion. The following year, Mervyn's contributed 37% of Dayton Hudson's operating profit.
Under Kilmartin's leadership, Mervyn's was highly regarded in the retail industry in the mid-1980s, when many of its competitors for the mid-range department store customer were floundering. During this time, many of Mervyn's rivals retooled themselves, adopting many of Mervyn's best ideas. J. C. Penney
, for example, abandoned its old identity as a full-line department store and like Mervyn's, focused on apparel and soft goods. Moreover, competitors began publishing their own tabloid advertisements, imitating the marketing tactic Mervyn's had used for decades. Perhaps most important, several retailers across the retailing spectrum began selling department store-quality goods at discounted prices. Kilmartin took mandatory retirement from the company in 1986.
Kilmartin remained active in his retirement. He served on the boards of several retail companies and founded the Retail Management Institute at Santa Clara University
.
and a recipient of the Assumpta Award given by the Archbishop and Regents of Saint Mary’s
Cathedral in San Francisco for his outstanding service and example as a Catholic layman. Kilmartin made the pilgrimage to Lourdes
five times. He was proud member of the Order of Malta since 1980. He served on the Board of Trustees at Santa Clara University
and the Bay Area Council and was an active member of the Capitol Club. He was a past vice-president of United Way of the Bay Area. Between 1988 and 1992, he was a trustee of the San Francisco Foundation.
At Washburn University
, the John F. Kilmartin Business Leaders Scholarship Fund is named in his honor. The Silicon Valley Community Foundation established the Kilmartin Educational Fund to recognize his contribution to the community.
Mervyns
Mervyns was an American middle scale department store chain based in Hayward, California. It carried national brands of clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics, and housewares. Many of the company's stores were in shopping malls...
.
Family and Education
Kilmartin was born in Albany, New YorkAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and grew up in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
. Kilmartin graduated from Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
where he was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
. During his junior year there he was recognized as one of the ten most outstanding men on campus with his selection for induction into the school’s prestigious Sagamore Society
Sagamore Honor Society
The Sagamore Society is the most exclusive honor society for men at Washburn University. Sagamore is not as controversial or as secretive as Yale's Skull and Bones but its members are known to include a governor, a member of Congress, two Army generals, and several judges, doctors and corporate...
.
His first wife, Irma Lee Kilmartin, preceded him in death. His second wife Patti survived him. In all, Kilmartin was the father of four sons and five daughters. At the time of his death, they counted 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Retail career
Following service in the Pacific with the Navy during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kilmartin began a 40-year career in the retail sector.
When Dayton Hudson purchased the 55 Mervyn's Departments Stores in 1978, Kilmartin took the rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s as the company's CEO. Backed by Dayton Hudson's financial resources, Mervyn's embarked on a remarkable course of expansion. By the mid-1980s, the chain was operating 148 stores. In 1984, Mervyn's opened nine stores in Texas—its first adventure outside the western United States—and posted a $223.3 million profit on sales of more than $2 billion. The following year, Mervyn's contributed 37% of Dayton Hudson's operating profit.
Under Kilmartin's leadership, Mervyn's was highly regarded in the retail industry in the mid-1980s, when many of its competitors for the mid-range department store customer were floundering. During this time, many of Mervyn's rivals retooled themselves, adopting many of Mervyn's best ideas. J. C. Penney
J. C. Penney
-External links:*...
, for example, abandoned its old identity as a full-line department store and like Mervyn's, focused on apparel and soft goods. Moreover, competitors began publishing their own tabloid advertisements, imitating the marketing tactic Mervyn's had used for decades. Perhaps most important, several retailers across the retailing spectrum began selling department store-quality goods at discounted prices. Kilmartin took mandatory retirement from the company in 1986.
Kilmartin remained active in his retirement. He served on the boards of several retail companies and founded the Retail Management Institute at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
.
Community Activities and Tributes
Kilmartin was a devout CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and a recipient of the Assumpta Award given by the Archbishop and Regents of Saint Mary’s
Cathedral in San Francisco for his outstanding service and example as a Catholic layman. Kilmartin made the pilgrimage to Lourdes
Lourdes
Lourdes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in south-western France.Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous...
five times. He was proud member of the Order of Malta since 1980. He served on the Board of Trustees at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
and the Bay Area Council and was an active member of the Capitol Club. He was a past vice-president of United Way of the Bay Area. Between 1988 and 1992, he was a trustee of the San Francisco Foundation.
At Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
, the John F. Kilmartin Business Leaders Scholarship Fund is named in his honor. The Silicon Valley Community Foundation established the Kilmartin Educational Fund to recognize his contribution to the community.