Jack H. Brown Stater Bros. Chairman and CEO Receives 2011 Congressional Medal of Honor Society 'Patriot Award'

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Born on Flag Day, Stater Bros. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jack H. Brown has lived his life in a manner that personifies patriotism, courage and service to others.

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On February 26, 2011, forty-five (45) Medal of Honor Recipients, our nation's greatest heroes, and over 750 notable guests gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California to honor Brown for his distinguished service to our country and present him with the prestigious Patriot Award. This is the highest award bestowed upon an individual by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and past recipients include Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Will Rogers, Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, and others.

A proud Navy Veteran, Brown served with the Pacific Fleet aboard the U.S.S. Interceptor and the U.S.S. General J.C. Breckinridge. Following his honorable discharge in 1962, he quickly rose through the ranks of the Supermarket Industry and has been at the helm of Stater Bros. Supermarkets for over 30 years.

Under Brown's leadership, Stater Bros. has established a long history of support for the Armed Forces and the United States Military Operations. Stater Bros. was the first to announce protection for the jobs of the over 200 members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family who have been called to active duty, by continuing to pay their weekly wages minus military pay as well as the medical, dental and vision benefits for their families. Stater Bros. also provides continuous support to the Riverside National Cemetery and was a sponsor of both the National Medal of Honor Memorial and the POW/MIA Memorial at this cemetery in Riverside, California.

In 2008, Brown's vision was realized with the creation of Stater Bros. Charities. In three short years, Stater Bros. Charities has donated more than $4 million to support the most critical needs in Southern California communities. Stater Bros. Charities recently donated three handicapped equipped transport vans to the VA Hospital in Loma Linda, California. These vans are used every day to transport local veterans to and from their doctor's appointments. In 2010, Stater Bros. Charities also provided over $600,000 in funding to assist with hunger relief efforts. This is in addition to the over 3 million pounds of food donated by Stater Bros. Markets each year.

Brown is also the Founding Chairman of Children's Fund of San Bernardino County, a unique public/private agency devoted to protecting abused and at-risk children, which has served over one million children in the last 25 years. In addition, Brown and Stater Bros. were recently honored by the State of California for the company's environmentally friendly programs, such as the campaign with Coca-Cola Refreshments which has raised over $1.2 million to preserve California State Parks.

Stater Bros. is the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in Southern California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County, with annual sales in 2010 of $3.6 billion. The Company currently operates 167 Supermarkets, and there are over 18,000 members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family.

STATER BROS ... PROUDLY SERVING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FAMILIES FOR 75 YEARS

Contact:  Susan Atkinson | Vice President Corporate Affairs | (909) 733-5038

SOURCE Stater Bros.