CSU Creates Jack H. Brown College of Business

Stater Bros. Executive Chairman Jack H. Brown now has an institution of higher learning named after him: California State University, San Bernardino's (CSUSB) College of Business and Public Administration.

The move follows Brown's personal pledge of the largest single cash gift to California State University, San Bernardino in the history of the college. Brown's personal gift will not only support academic enrichment and student scholarships in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration, but will also help attract and retain faculty, facilitate student enrichment and provide for new programs and supplement research in perpetuity.

"I am very honored and proud to have my name associated with the College of Business and Public Administration at CSUSB," said Brown, who was raised in San Bernardino, attended Washington and Lytle Creek Elementary Schools, Richardson Junior High, San Bernardino High School, and San Bernardino Valley College.

Further, with Stater Bros. headquarters in the heart of San Bernardino and its standing as the largest private employer in the Inland Empire of Southern California, with nearly 18,000 members of the regional supermarket chain's extended supermarket family, Brown said he considers the personal gift "an investment in the Inland Empire's future success.”

Brown continued: “My involvement with CSUSB actually started before the university was even established, when I joined other members of the San Bernardino Kiwanis Club to plant trees on barren land in order to make it an attractive location for a Cal State campus."

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales, who spoke to the trustees prior to the vote, called Brown a visionary "whose generosity will positively impact CSUSB and our students for generations to come. CSUSB is extremely fortunate to have Jack Brown as a friend and supporter, someone who for nearly seven decades has championed efforts to elevate and strengthen the communities of the Inland Empire. The most immediate benefit to our university is the continuing association with Jack Brown," whose name, Morales added, "is more than recognizable; it conveys success, dedication and integrity, and is highly respected locally, regionally and nationally."

Brown has helmed Stater Bros. Markets for 36 years, during which time he has presided over dramatic growth. When he arrived at Stater Bros., the company generated sales of $475 million, with 69 supermarkets and 3,300 employees.  Today, Stater Bros.’ sales exceed $4.2 billion, with 168 supermarkets and nearly 18,000 associates.

In 1992, California State University, San Bernardino honored Brown by the naming of Jack H. Brown Hall, which is the home of the College of Business and Public Administration, the Department of Computer Sciences, and the Department of Mathematics, and in 2005, he was honored by CSUSB with an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

Brown is a strong believer in giving back to the communities served by Stater Bros. He's the founding chairman of Children’s Fund of San Bernardino County, a public/private agency devoted to protecting abused and at-risk children, which serves 1.4 million children; in honor of his mother, he created the Rose Brown scholarship for single parents at CSUSB; and he also supports numerous college scholarships for employees of Stater Bros.  

A Navy veteran, Brown is also known for his commitment to the values and sacrifices of those who serve our country. He has pledged to protect the jobs and benefits of Stater Bros. employees who are called to active duty and pays the difference between their Stater Bros. pay and their military pay until they return from active duty. In October 2008, Brown was awarded the Semper Fidelis award, presented by the commandant of the Marine Corps on behalf of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.  This is the highest honor the foundation awards, and was bestowed in recognition of his patriotism and distinguished service in support of the United States Marine Corps. In February 2011, Brown received the Patriot Award, the highest award the Congressional Medal of Honor Society can bestow upon an individual.  The award is presented to distinguished Americans who exemplify the ideals that make our country strong. 

Additionally, Brown has received honors and awards from the California Grocers Association, Food Marketing Institute's Sidney R. Rabb award, and an honorary doctorate of humanitarian services from Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine.