UT Tyler Patriots of the Year
April 30, 2014
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
Brookshire Grocery Co. Named UT Tyler Patriots of the Year
April 30, 2014
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
April 29, 2014
Media Contact:Beverley Golden
Director
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303 or 903.330.0495 (cell)
In honor of their exemplary dedication and generosity, Brookshire Grocery Company has been named The University of Texas at Tyler 2014 Patriots of the Year, UT Tyler President Rodney H. Mabry announced.
The UT Tyler Patriot of the Year Award recognizes the enduring contributions of an individual, couple or organization to the advancement of the university and the community.
“We are extremely grateful for friends such as Chairman of the Board Bradley W. Brookshire and the entire Brookshire Grocery Company. We thank them for being the sort of thoughtful and committed citizens for which Tyler is known. They have affected East Texas in a positive way through an unwavering commitment to service, a generous spirit and dedication to this community,” Mabry said.
BGC has supported UT Tyler in several ways, most notably assisting in the development of a business degree focusing on retail management and a “mock store” retail lab as well as a generous gift to help build the facility to house the Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy. The building, W.T. Brookshire Hall, is named for BGC founder.
UT Tyler partnered with BGC in the development of a business management degree program in retail enterprises. The partnership also established a first-of-its-kind retail lab to provide hands-on experience for students interested in retail management.
Rick Rayford, BGC president and CEO, and Brookshire Grocery Company were strong local supporters of the initiative to add the UT Tyler pharmacy program, which will fulfill a workforce need and provide East Texas students access to a course of study that is not available locally or regionally.
BGC operates pharmacies within 116 stores and employs more than 1,100 pharmacists, technicians and clerks.
“Brookshire Grocery Company made this investment in the pharmacy school at UT Tyler to honor our company’s founder, enhance the educational opportunities in Tyler, and to have a positive impact on the Tyler economy and community,” said Rick Rayford.
Almost 10 years in the making, the Fisch College of Pharmacy will be an innovative, self-sustaining program in which UT Tyler will partner with UT Health Northeast on the research to be conducted at the pharmacy school.
In 1928, Wood T. Brookshire opened a small, 2,500-square-foot grocery store in downtown Tyler, which served as the launching pad for Brookshire Grocery Co. The company is comprised of more than 150 stores and three distinct brands in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas: Brookshire’s Food Stores, Super 1 Food Stores and FRESH by Brookshire’s.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.