Robert Randall Onstead
Encyclopedia
Robert Randall Onstead, Senior (July 20, 1931 - August 4, 2004) was founder of Randall's Food Markets
in Houston and served as chair of the board from 1966 to 1999.
Onstead was born in Garrett, Texas
. Onstead first gained experience in the grocery business when he delivered groceries for his uncle in Ennis, Texas
. He graduated from Ennis High School in Ennis, Texas in 1948 and the University of North Texas
in 1954. Onstead also served for two years in the United States Air Force
. He had been president of Onstead Interests since 1999 and a limited partner in the Houston Texans since 2001. He was inducted into the Texas
Business Hall of Fame in 1993. He later joined Safeway
which had acquired now-struggling Randalls, to head the also struggling Dominick's
chain in Chicago.
Onstead died in Sicily
during a vacation. He had a heart attack
at the airport while traveling with his wife, daughter, and granddaughter. He was 73 years old when he died.
Randall's Food Markets
Randall's Food Markets operates 112 supermarkets in the Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas under the Randalls, Flagship Randalls, Tom Thumb, Flagship Tom Thumb, and Simon David banners. Randall's employs more than 10,000 associates and is the Texas division of Safeway Inc. The Texas...
in Houston and served as chair of the board from 1966 to 1999.
Onstead was born in Garrett, Texas
Garrett, Texas
Garrett is a town in Ellis County, Texas, United States. The population was 448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Garrett is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. Onstead first gained experience in the grocery business when he delivered groceries for his uncle in Ennis, Texas
Ennis, Texas
Ennis is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States, and a southeastern suburb of Dallas. The population was 16,045 at the 2000 census.In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad purchased of land in Ellis County at a price of , establishing the line's northern terminus. On May 8, 1872,...
. He graduated from Ennis High School in Ennis, Texas in 1948 and the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
in 1954. Onstead also served for two years in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. He had been president of Onstead Interests since 1999 and a limited partner in the Houston Texans since 2001. He was inducted into the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Business Hall of Fame in 1993. He later joined Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
which had acquired now-struggling Randalls, to head the also struggling Dominick's
Dominick's
Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc. is a grocery store chain and subsidiary of Safeway Inc. with locations mainly in the Chicago area, Illinois, USA. Dominick's distribution center is located in Northlake, while its management offices are located in Oak Brook....
chain in Chicago.
Onstead died in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
during a vacation. He had a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the airport while traveling with his wife, daughter, and granddaughter. He was 73 years old when he died.