Jack Shewmaker

Jack Shewmaker, Distinguished Graduate Inducted 2014

Mr. Shewmaker was born and raised here in Dallas County and lived a typical rural Missouri childhood of the 1930's and 1940's.  He married his high school sweetheart Melba, and after they both graduated from Buffalo High School, Jack went on to greatness in the business world.  Mr. Shewmaker was always considered a "young man on the move" and was "always looking forward".  After starting a career in business in Springfield, Mr. Shewmaker's big break came in 1970 when Sam Walton hired Jack as one of the two district managers of Walmart.  One of the most innovative thoughts in Walmart history came in 1974 when Mr. Shewmaker developed the "Everyday Low Prices" strategy of Walmart.  He also coined the company's well-known term "Rollback". His initiative helped set Walmart up for decades of skyrocketing growth.   He brought satellite communication to Walmart, where inventory and sales data would be available instantly.  He was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Walmart in 1978, where he shaped a Walmart culture that focused on ethics within the operation. He retired from Walmart in 1988 and served on the Walmart board for 20 years. Mr. Shewmaker and his wife Melba never forgot Buffalo or Dallas County and they made funds available  to build and maintain the beautiful Shewmaker Center on the Buffalo High School campus, where the official Dallas County R-I Schools Hall of Fame is located.