<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Lakeland, FL -</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">12.7.12</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The industry bids farewell to one of its own. Mark C. Hollis, retired Publix President and Director Emeritus, has passed away. Mr. Hollis was 78. His career with Publix spanned almost 60 years.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/InMemoriam120712image.jpg" alt="images120712" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr.Hollis' career with Publix spanned almost 60 years, starting in 1946 at the age of 12 where he first joined the company bagging potatoes. Mr. Hollis gained experience working in all areas of the company in positions that included Store Manager, Director of Personnel, Director of Warehousing and Distribution, and Vice President of Public Relations and Public Affairs.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Hollis was elected to Publix’s board of directors in 1974 and served as Publix's President from 1984 until 1996 at which point he was elected Vice Chairman of the Board. He retired in 1999 and remained on Publix’s Board of Directors until 2005. He was then honored as Director Emeritus.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“The Publix family is deeply saddened by the loss of a great leader and co-worker who made significant contributions to the growth and success of our company,” said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw. “Mark will be sorely missed by his family, our associates and the community. He was a Publix icon who had a way of captivating an audience when he spoke. Most recently, in February of this year, he addressed our Miami Division leadership team for their annual conference and spoke about not looking back on the good old days, but moving forward to the bright future of our company; a message that will long resonate with our managers."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Mr. Hollis is survived by his wife of 57 years, Lynn, sons, Clayton (Bev), Publix Vice President of Public Affairs, Jack (MaryLee) of Babson Park, Fla., Dean (Lisa), of Omaha, NE and 11 grandchildren: Justin (Rachel), Barrett, Kaley, Clay, Darrica, Will, Jill, Eric, David, Trent and Megan.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Our hearts go out to his family and friends.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
