Former Harris Teeter Owner Dies at 94

Rush Stuart Dickson, the former owner of Harris Teeter and textile manufacturer American & Efird, died on May 11 at 94, reports The Charlotte Observer.

Dickson and his brother Alan Dickson took over their father’s business in 1968 and helped it become a multi-billion-dollar holdings company, R. S. Dickson & Co., which eventually became Ruddick Corp. The business acquired Harris Teeter in 1969. Rush Stuart Dickson was the chairman of the board until 1994.

He was also known for his philanthropic endeavors, serving on many boards for schools and community groups, according to the report. Some businesses include Foundation for the Carolinas, Foundation for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Davidson College, and Wake Forest University.

“My heart goes out to Stuart Dickson’s family and loved ones; our community has lost a true champion for philanthropy,” Cathy Bessant, CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas, said in a statement. “Stuart’s legacy will be the difference he made on the lives of others through his generosity.”

In 2000, Stuart Dickson was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame. In 2016, Stuart and Adam Dickson retired from their roles, naming Stuart Dickson’s son Thomas Dickson as chairman of Ruddick Corp. Full Story