Center for Retailing Studies instrumental in first-ever inductions

More than 350 people gathered in New York City in January to see five retailing visionaries inducted into the inaugural Retailing Hall of Fame, drawing together a crowd of the biggest names in the business at Cipriani's 42nd Street.

The Jan. 16 inductions marked the first time a hall of fame has been organized to honor the most famed retailers across the industry. Editors from major business and fashion publications in ball gowns and tuxedos sat side-by-side with legendary retailing icons, known for their prowess in the marketplace.

The Retailing Hall of Fame was organized by the Center for Retailing Studies and founded by its director, David Szymanksi.

"The Retailing Hall of Fame represents the forum for permanently recognizing leaders in retailing," Szymanski said. "It will fill an important void, the absence of an institution whose purpose is to celebrate retailing by enshrining leaders past and present."

From left to right: David Szymanski, Retailing Hall of Fame founder and director of Mays' Center for Retailing Studies; Richard Marcus, who accepted the award on behalf of father Stanley; Allen Questrom, former CEO and chairman of JCPenney; Gordon Segal, founder and CEO of Crate & Barrel; and Leonard Riggio, founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

Those inducted in the 2005 Hall of Fame include:

• Stanley Marcus, the former president and chief executive officer of Neiman Marcus well known as a master merchandiser with a flair for promotions. Richard Marcus accepted the award for his father, "Mr. Stanley," who died in 2002.
• Retailing pioneer Sam Walton, the founder and former chair of Wal-Mart, now the world's largest retailer with more than 5,000 stores and superstores in 10 countries. Walton, who died in 1992, made the customer the boss with "Everyday Low Prices." Accepting the award on his behalf was Wal-Mart Senior Vice President Celia Clancy.
• Allen Questrom, the former chair and CEO of JCPenney, Inc., whose specialty in turnarounds helped him revitalize Federated Department Stores and JCPenney. He's also known for controlling growth and ramping up profits during tenures at such companies as Neiman Marcus and Barney's.
• Leonard Riggio, founder and chair of Barnes & Noble, Inc. Riggio started out with a single store and ended with three marketplace-changing retail ventures, each the largest and most profitable in their segments: Barnes & Noble, Barnes and Noble College Bookstores and GameStop.
• Gordon Segal, co-founder and CEO of Crate and Barrel. Segal and wife Carole opened their first store to provide stylish but affordable house wares, and now operate a chain of 135 stores. Crate and Barrel is reputed for its colorful display of elegant and fun home furnishings.

A board of senior retailing executives selected the five honorees. Members of the Retail Writer's Guild, an organization of the United States' top 75 newspaper and business journals, nominated the executives beforehand.

The ceremony also honored longtime Mays benefactor Donald Zale, former head of the Zale Corp. and chair of the M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation. He was recognized with the Retailing Education Leadership award for his contributions to business and higher education.

Planning has already begun for the 2006 Retailing Hall of Fame at Mays' premier retail education center, which coaches and inspires students by connecting them to retailing greats in the form of guest speakers and such events as the Hall of Fame.

The Center's staff organized and attended the 2005 gala, bringing 18 Aggie Wranglers as entertainment. Four Corps of Cadets students and eight M.B. Zale Leadership Scholars helped serve as organizational muscle, giving them a chance to honor their heroes and rub elbows with the best-known names in retail.

The event was independently funded through such items as tickets for dinner plates. Proceeds benefited two, one-year scholarships for Zale scholars. For more detailed biographies of the first-year Retailing Hall of Fame inductees, visit http://www.retailinghalloffame.com. @