Shewmaker

Lifetime Achievement Award: Jack Shewmaker

2007 Inaugural Award Recipient

Jack Shewmaker is known for his successful career as an executive in the retailing industry and for his active involvement in organizations that promote higher education. For those reasons, Shewmaker will receive the first Breech Lifetime Achievement in Business Award from Drury University for his dedication to free enterprise and his commitment to the corporate world.

"The Breech faculty are honored to celebrate Jack's career. He exemplifies the meaning of accomplishment within the free enterprise system,” says Dr. Robert Wyatt, director of the Breech School of Business Administration. “His passion for improving the lives of people around the world and his support of Drury and our SIFE team has been crucial to our success. In fact, the SIFE's team annual award, given to those who have helped the team in the greatest way, bears his name. We are thrilled to recognize his influence on the lives of our students."

Shewmaker joined Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 1970 and served the firm in a number of capacities including the positions of President and Chief Operating Officer and of Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. He was appointed to the Wal-Mart Board of Directors in 1977 and served on Wal-Mart's Executive Committee. Shewmaker announced his semi-retirement from Wal-Mart in February 1988, but remains active with the company as a member of the Board of Directors.


View the tribute video produced to recognize Shewmaker's achievements.
Shewmaker was a consultant and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Lowe's Companies, Inc. (1985-1994). He was a director for the Von's Company, Inc. (1988-1993). He has consulted for ALH Australia Limited; Repco and Pacific Dunlop Group in Melbourne, Australia; Edgars, Inc. in South Africa; Central Stores, Ltd. in Bangkok, Thailand; B & Q Stores in the United Kingdom, the largest home improvement chain in the UK; PepsiCo; Johnson & Johnson; Bristol-Meyers; and White Laboratories, Inc.

Currently, Shewmaker is a consultant to the Board of Directors and Executive Management of Woolworths Limited in Sydney, Australia, the largest food retailer in Australia. In addition to serving on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors, Shewmaker serves as an advisory board member for Henkel, North America and on both the executive and finance committee of the Board of Trustees of The Cleveland Clinic.

Shewmaker is involved in many organizations that promote higher education. For several years he served as Chairman of Students in Free Enterprise, Inc. and currently serves as an executive board member. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri since 1984, serving on their executive committee and other various committees during that time. Drury University, Southwest Baptist University and Northwest Arkansas Community College have all awarded him honorary degrees.