Warren McCain dead at 82
Monday, August 4, 2008 10:34 AM PDT
Argus Observer staff reports
PAYETTE — One of the Treasure Valley’s most notable citizens has died.
Warren McCain, 82, former chief executive officer of the Albertsons Inc., died Saturday at his home in Boise.
McCain, who led the Albertsons Inc., for 15 years, became known as one of Idaho’s most important and well-known business leaders, a top philanthropist and friend. He served as CEO for Albertsons from 1976 to 1991.The Idaho businessman grew up in Payette and in his own words, he “grew up poor.” He shared his eventual wealth with many organizations over the years.
Payette eventually named a school after the hometown native. McCain Middle School bears his name at the newest school in Payette. McCain endowed the school, which helped district officials who were trying to pass a bond to construct the building.
McCain was also a contributor to Boise State University where researchers study at the McCain Collection for Western Life at the college’s Albertson’s Library and the center of student life at the College of Idaho in Caldwell also bears his name.
Under McCain’s leadership, Albertsons went through one of its greatest periods of growth in history. McCain led the grocery store chain from nearly $900 million in annual sales to $8 billion annually and increased earning from $9 million to $200 million.
The supermarket chain is now owned by SuperValu.
The late Joe Albertson once said of McCain: “I built some grocery store, and I got rich,” Albertson said. “And then I hired a man named Warren McCain to run them, and I got filthy rich.”
Many of McCain’s friends remember a man who talk to anyone and one who had a terrific sense of humor.
Former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus, who visited Payette with McCain on occasion, said McCain introduced him as the first democrat to sit on the board of directors for Albertson’s when Andrus was appointed to the board in 1982. “But I want you to know, I get credit from the government for employing a minority,” Andrus recalled McCain saying in his speech.
McCain and his wife created scholarships and a humanities chair at the College of Idaho, where the McCain’s also provided half of the $3 million that created the McCain Student Center.
McCain also gave a $1 million gift in 1995 endowed to the Warren McCain Middle School.
“Having a school named after me was the greatest honor every bestowed upon me,” McCain said. “With my name on the door, I’m going to do anything in my power to make sure the products that come through that school are better prepared to cope with today’s world.”
McCain was born in Logan, Kan., and moved to Payette with his family when he was a young child. He graduated from Payette High School in 1943 and has long supported the Payette School District.
His philanthropic efforts helped earn recognition from the Horatio Alger Association in 1991. Included as recipients that year were Sen. Phil Gramm, Major League baseball Hall of Famer Stan Musial and Colin Powell.
He was also a war veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.
McCain is survived by his wife, Bernie, two daughters and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Mark.
When asked once how he wanted to be remembered, McCain said, “As someone who was fair with everybody that was involved in the company — customers, employees, suppliers and stockholders.”
