Thomas J. Long


Thomas J. Long was an American accountant and business owner who co-founded Long's Drugs with his brother Joseph.
He was born in Covelo, California in 1910. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, College of Commerce where he graduated with a business degree in 1932. After graduating he was hired as an accountant by a predecessor to Deloitte.
In the 1930's, Mr. Long borrowed $25,000 to open a drug store with his younger brother, Joseph in Oakland. That store would become the first of a 274-store chain which in 1996 had annual sales of $2.5 billion in five states as of the time of his death.
The New York Times quotes retail experts as saying part of the Longs' success was "an ability to have each store cater to the needs of its community."
Thomas Long retired as the company's chairman in 1975, but he remained a director until his death.
He tried to avoid publicity and shunned extravagance, though he was reported to hold more than $70 million of the company's stock.
Mr. Long died at his home, company officials said Monday. The cause of death was not announced. At the time of his death Long was survived by two daughters, two sons, one brother, two sisters and six grandchildren.
He was the chief donor to the Thomas J. Long Foundation. Part of his estate was donated to UC Berkeley. The Thomas J. Long Business Library at the Haas School of Business bears his name. The Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at the University of the Pacific is also named after him.