DALLAS — Jere Thompson Sr., credited with helping to create the modern convenience store along with his family, died Tuesday at 91.
His father, Joe C. Thompson, founded an ice business in 1927 before refrigeration was common in homes, according to the Texas State Historical Association, and Jere quickly joined the family business.
Their early Tote’m stores were eventually renamed 7-Eleven in 1946 to reflect their operating hours, according to the historical association.
The Southland Co. then expanded into other businesses, as Jere was named president of the company in 1961 and eventually named CEO.
He joined the company in the mid-1950s after a stint in the Navy, according to his obituary. He also graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in business administration in 1954.
During his tenure as 7-Eleven's CEO, the company expanded into other states and introduced products like the partially-frozen drinks that eventually became known as “Slurpees.”
When Southland went public in 1968, it had more than 3,500 stores in its portfolio, according to the Texas State Historical Association. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972, and soon after expanded to international markets in Mexico, Japan, and the U.K.
In 1987, facing a hostile takeover from a Canadian company, the Thompson family took the company private, and Southland filed for bankruptcy in 1990, according to the historical association.
Southland Corp. was then bought by its Japanese franchise operator Ito-Yokado Company.
Jere and his late wife, Peggy, had seven children, 23 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, John, who also worked in the family business.
Thompson supported organizations, including the University of Texas, UT Southwestern Medical Foundation supporting UT Southwestern Medical Center, the University of Dallas, and Catholic Charities.
Services celebrating Thompson’s life are set for Dec. 22 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas.
