George W. Jenkins

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George W. Jenkins
Born	September 29, 1907(1907-09-29) Warm Springs, Georgia
Died	April 8, 1996 Lakeland, FL
Occupation	Founder, Publix Super Markets

George Washington Jenkins (September 29, 1907 – April 8, 1996) was an American businessman and founder of Publix Super Markets. In 1930, despite the Great Depression, Jenkins risked his career and everything he had to start a new grocery store in which the associates would be treated with utmost respect and dignity and the customers would receive friendly and efficient service every time they visited. He named this chain Publix.

Jenkins was affectionately called "Mr. George" by his associates, who all had a good relationship with him. He returned their goodwill and hard work by giving them stock in the company.

After changing Publix from an ordinary market to a supermarket and moving the company's headquarters to Lakeland, Florida, the business grew. In the 1950s, bakeries were added to the stores. In the 1980s, Publix added pharmacies. In the 1990s, the chain started to expand for the first time outside of Florida, starting in Georgia.

Mr. Jenkins suffered a stroke on August 8, 1989, though for years he continued to work and visit his supermarkets. In 1993, a new high school, George W. Jenkins High School, in Lakeland was named after him. Jenkins died in 1996, leaving his wealth to charity and his family, which continues to run the company.^{[citation needed]}

Publix Super Markets now operates in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. It is now one of the largest privately owned companies in the country.