The Industry Remembers Tom Griffith

ATHENS, Ga.—Calvin Thomas “Tom” Griffith, former CEO of Golden Pantry Food Stores Inc. and 1981 NACS chairman, died on September 30 in Athens, Georgia.

Tom led NACS during a pivotal period as it expanded its reach from education programs developed for members to education directed at government officials. He also helped oversee the smooth transition from original NACS President Harry Hunter to NACS CEO Kerley LeBoeuf. As part of this transition, the association worked with the American Management Association to redefine its structure that included the titles of its leaders. Prior to 1981, the top NACS staff leader was known as “chairman,” and the top elected leader was known as “president.” That switched in 1981, and Tom is the only person to serve NACS with both titles in a given calendar year.

Tom graduated from Athens High School and attended the University of Georgia. He then served as a Yeomen Third Class in the United States Navy from 1950 to 1954. In 1951 Tom, a Member of Ye Royal Order of “Blue Nose,” served on the USS LST 980 crossing the Arctic Circle on June 17, 1951.

For more than a decade, Tom was a successful entrepreneur serving in several industries before joining the convenience store industry almost by accident. He noted in a 2000 NACS interview that a colleague suggested that his community lacked a quality convenience store offering and that he should consider opening one. Around the same time, he was invited to attend a NACS event in nearby Atlanta and met with then-NACS President Harry Hunter, who convinced him to join the industry.

On July 3, 1965, Tom opened the first Golden Pantry store in the Athens, Georgia, area, near where he was born and raised. The next day he opened the second Golden Pantry across town.

The company expanded over the years and today operates 38 stores throughout the state. The company is now a third-generation business, with Tom’s sons and grandson all working for the business. Tom retired as CEO in 2006.

Tom was instrumental in founding the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores in 1973 and served as its first chairman from 1973 to 1975. GACS became the second state association founded to address issues important to the industry in the state.

Tom was active in a number of other organizations including the Georgia Wholesale Grocers Association and the Georgia Oilmen’s Association. He served as chairman of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, chairman of Northeast Georgia Surface & Air Transportation Commission, president of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and board member of the Georgia Board of Economic Development. He was the First Southeast convenience store inductee in the Food Industry Half of Fame.

In addition to serving as NACS chairman, Tom also was active on the NACS Convention Committee, Education Committee and NACSPAC Board. During his tenure as NACS chairman, the association was also a major supporter of the annual Jerry Lewis MDA telethon, raising a record $5.5 million in contributions.

"All four of my sons have worked at Golden Pantry at one time or another, three of them still do work there, and I am pleased with that," Tom told the Athens Banner-Herald during the company’s 50^th anniversary celebration in 2015. “The third generation is now involved in the business, and I’m very happy about that. It gives me a good feeling of longevity. The current leadership at the company—that is the end of my dream, really.”

A visitation is scheduled for Thursday, October 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Lord and Stephens – West, 1211 Jimmy Daniel Rd., Watkinsville, Georgia. A celebration of life will take place Friday, October 4, at 11 a.m. at Athens First United Methodist Church, 327 North Lumpkin Street, Athens, Georgia. More information is available online.