Richard "Dick" Taylor, who led the company behind Price Cutter and Ramey stores for nearly three decades, died Aug. 2 at age 79.
Taylor died from injuries sustained in an accident near his home, according to his obituary in the Springfield News-Leader.
Taylor started as a part-time meat cutter and moved up through the ranks to be president of the company now known as RPCS Inc., according to the obituary. RPCS operates 45 Price Cutter, Ramey, Smitty's, Food Pyramid, Save-A-Lot and Discount Foods stores in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Taylor led the company from the late 1960s until he transitioned management to his son, Erick, in 1993, according to the RPCS Web site. He retired and became a gentleman rancher of more than 300 acres north of Springfield, while remaining as board chairman for RPCS.
During his career, Taylor served on the boards of directors for Associated Wholesale Grocers, Missouri Grocer's Association and Ozark Empire Grocer's Association, according to the obituary. He also was a charter stockholder and board member of State Bank of Southwest Missouri.
In 1992, Taylor received the Spirit of America Award from the National Grocer's Association. He received the Outstanding Person Award from Ozark Empire Grocer's Association in 1996, and he was inducted into the Missouri Grocer's Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
He also received the American Cancer Society National Award in Washington, D.C., for contributing to the fight against cancer.
Visitation is 7-9 p.m. Thursday at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, and funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday at the church.[[In-content Ad]]
