Great American Business Leaders of the 20th Century
Robert E. Dewar
K-Mart Corporation
1972–1979
1972–1979
K-Mart Corporation
1972–1979
1972–1979
With a law degree from Wayne State University, Dewar joined S. S. Kresge (K-Mart) in the legal department. However, he became more interested in business than law and eventually led K-Mart’s huge expansion of retail stores nationwide. He opened 271 stores in 1976 alone and within only eight years, he opened over 1,200 locations, one of the largest expansions in retailing history. Between 1970 and 1980, he worked to increase sales from $2.5 billion to $14.2 billion.
Education / Military
- Undergraduate: Wayne State University
- Military Service: Navy