Food City founder Jack Smith passes away
March 15, 2007
04:42 PM EDT
type size: + -BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Bristol Motor Speedway lost a close and valued friend Thursday with the passing of Jack Smith, the founder and chairman of long-time race sponsor Food City.
The 81-year-old Smith died Thursday morning at his home in Abingdon, Va., after a brief illness.
Bristol Motor Speedway president and general manager Jeff Byrd was extremely saddened by Smith's passing.
"Jack Smith was a great friend to all of us at BMS," he said. "He was a true gentleman and I've always felt that he and the rest of the Food City folks were just an extension of our family here. We were in business together certainly but the relationship we had with Jack went far beyond that.
"He built a very successful business based on the same exemplary values and principals he lived by. He was an outstanding individual and we will miss him a great deal. All of us at BMS are thinking about the Smith family during this very difficult time and have them in our prayers."
In 1955 Smith opened his first store in his hometown of Grundy, Va., and so began his storied career in the grocery business. Now more than 50 years later, Food City stands at the top among supermarket chains serving the Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee Tri-State region and boasts nearly 100 stores.
Smith built his chain upon the premise of providing superior customer service -- a principle that still rings loudly throughout the Food City chain today.
Food City joined Bristol Motor Speedway in 1992 and is celebrating its 15th anniversary as sponsor of the spring Nextel Cup race, The Food City 500. Food City, which also sponsors the Food City 250 Busch Series event in August, recently extended its sponsorship through 2010.
Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon is in charge of the funeral service. Arrangements, however, are incomplete at this time.
March 15, 2007
04:42 PM EDT
type size: + -BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Bristol Motor Speedway lost a close and valued friend Thursday with the passing of Jack Smith, the founder and chairman of long-time race sponsor Food City.
The 81-year-old Smith died Thursday morning at his home in Abingdon, Va., after a brief illness.
Bristol Motor Speedway president and general manager Jeff Byrd was extremely saddened by Smith's passing.
"Jack Smith was a great friend to all of us at BMS," he said. "He was a true gentleman and I've always felt that he and the rest of the Food City folks were just an extension of our family here. We were in business together certainly but the relationship we had with Jack went far beyond that.
"He built a very successful business based on the same exemplary values and principals he lived by. He was an outstanding individual and we will miss him a great deal. All of us at BMS are thinking about the Smith family during this very difficult time and have them in our prayers."
In 1955 Smith opened his first store in his hometown of Grundy, Va., and so began his storied career in the grocery business. Now more than 50 years later, Food City stands at the top among supermarket chains serving the Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee Tri-State region and boasts nearly 100 stores.
Smith built his chain upon the premise of providing superior customer service -- a principle that still rings loudly throughout the Food City chain today.
Food City joined Bristol Motor Speedway in 1992 and is celebrating its 15th anniversary as sponsor of the spring Nextel Cup race, The Food City 500. Food City, which also sponsors the Food City 250 Busch Series event in August, recently extended its sponsorship through 2010.
Farris Funeral Service in Abingdon is in charge of the funeral service. Arrangements, however, are incomplete at this time.
