Edward Michael O'Herron Jr. of Palm Beach and Charlotte, N.C., died Wednesday, July 26, 2006,
at his home in Charlotte. He was 90. Mr. O'Herron was born Nov. 6, 1915, in Baltimore to Sarah "Sally"
Elizabeth Eckerd O'Herron and Edward Michael O'Herron Sr.
His wife of 65 years, Margaret Aston "Dosty" Blackman O'Herron, preceded him in death.
Mr. O'Herron was a retired chairman of Eckerd Drugs. He graduated from Culver Military Academy, where he
was a regimental commander, and attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he was president of his class
for two years. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
During his military career, he volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941, serving throughout World War
II with the 5th Division. As a battalion supply officer of B Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Division,
he landed at Iwo Jima Feb. 19, 1945. During the conflict, he rose to the rank of captain and remained
company commander of B Company until end of the operation. He was awarded the Silver Star medal
for "heroism, leadership in battle and cool courage."
Mr. O'Herron returned to Charlotte after retirement from the military, joining his father in Eckerd Drugs.
He built Eckerd from a small organization of six stores, including the first self-service drug store in the
eastern United States in Charlotte, to a New York Stock Exchange publicly traded company of approximately
260 stores, eventually merging with the Jack Eckerd Corp. of Florida. In 2003, Mr. O'Herron was elected to
the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame.
Throughout his life, he volunteered for numerous civic organizations and political offices. He served for 26
years as a member and chairman of Charlotte Memorial Hospital and the first chairman of the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority. In 1971, he was chairman of the Billy Graham Day
School and was named Charlotte News Man of the Year. A supporter of higher education, he
served on the boards of Converse College and St. Andrews Presbyterian College. For his contribution to
the University of North Carolina, including serving as chairman of the Carolina Challenge Campaign in the
late 1970s, he received the William R. Davie Award. He was a longtime member of Christ Episcopal Church
in Charlotte, where he taught Sunday School.
He served on several corporate boards, including Piedmont Aviation, Wachovia Corp., BellSouth, Synalloy
Corp., Akzona Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas and Jack Eckerd Corp. and later became a director emeritus of
USAIR and Wachovia. In the late 1950s, he served three terms in the North Carolina Legislature and was
responsible for introducing the first Community College System legislation in 1954. He served on the
Advisory Budget Commission in the 1960s and ran for governor of North Carolina in 1976. In addition
to serving as president of the Charlotte Country Club and Quail Hollow Club, he was a member of the
Charlotte City Club, as well as Palm Beach Everglades Club, the Bath and Tennis Club, the Seminole
Club and the Augusta National Golf Association. He enjoyed golf, aviation and snow skiing with his
grandchildren into his 80s.
Mr. O'Herron is survived by three children, William P. O'Herron and wife Earlene of Marathon,
Patricia O'Herron Norman and husband Tommy of Charlotte, and Kennedy C. O'Herron and wife Barbara
of Raleigh, N.C.; grandchildren, William Porter O'Herron Jr. and wife Liz, George Steele Dewey IV and wife
Meg, Edward O'Herron Dewey and wife Kristan, Margaret "Dosty" Dewey Quarrier and husband Alex,
Margaret Porter O'Herron, Edward Michael O'Herron II, Sarah Elizabeth O'Herron, Michael Eckerd
O'Herron and Katherine Miller O'Herron; and two step-grandchildren, Anna Taylor Norman and Thomas
Heath Norman. He also is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Susanna Carlyle O'Herron, William Porter
O'Herron III, Margaret Alexander Dewey, Holden McCall Dewey, George Steele Dewey V, Scarlet Anderson
Dewey and Sally O'Herron Quarrier; and his sister, Nancy O'Herron Rankin and husband David. A son,
Edward Michael O'Herron III, and a sister and brother-in-law, Betty O'Herron Sullivan and John Thomas
Sullivan, preceded him in death. Mr. O'Herron also is survived by longtime caretakers, Lillie Craig for 62
years and Violet McDonald for 38 years.
The family received friends Friday at the home of Patricia and Tommy Norman in Charlotte. A graveside
service was held Saturday at Forest Lawn West Cemetery in Charlotte. Memorial contributions in Mr.
O'Herron's name may be made to: Carolinas Healthcare Foundation, P.O. Box 32861, Charlotte, NC
28232; UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Campus Box 3490 McColl Building, Chapel Hill, NC
27599; or YMCA of Greater Charlotte, 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Harry and Bryant Company funeral home was in charge of arrangements. |