NGA Recognizes Jim Brown of Doc’s Food Stores with Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award

May 4, 2018

Jim Brown, President of Doc’s Food Stores, was presented with the National Grocers Association’s highest award for government and public affairs, the Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award.  The award was presented on Tuesday, May 1, by NGA Executive Vice President Greg Ferrara during the Oklahoma Grocers Association Chairman’s Dinner in Oklahoma City, OK.

“Jim Brown is one of those members who constantly goes above and beyond to help NGA get wins for the independent supermarket industry.  Whether it’s bringing a delegation of retailers to Washington, DC each year or hosting elected officials in his store, Jim is focused on building relationships and helping policymakers understand the important role independent supermarkets play across Oklahoma and the nation,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA Executive Vice President.

“NGA’s member companies are dedicated and committed to the success of the industry and NGA is proud to be the voice of independent grocers.  We are lucky to have people like Jim, who are tireless advocates for our industry’s public policy agenda and have helped build NGA into the respected organization that it is today.  Simply put, our industry is better today because of the work of people like Jim Brown,” said Ferrara.

Initiated in 1982, the Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award is NGA’s most distinguished government relations award that is presented to an individual or company whose leadership in the food industry best exemplifies active and effective participation in government relations as a citizen and industry representative. Public affairs participation is a broad concept reflecting service to people as a whole or the community at large. Service may include but is not limited to charitable, political, educational, or other activities establishing exemplary leadership on behalf of the food industry.

The award’s namesake, Clarence Adamy, was a past president of the National Association of Food Chains and was very active in public and government affairs, having served as Patronage Chief and Personnel Director of the Republican National Committee during the Eisenhower Years in the 1950s and as a member of the Bradley Commission in 1956 that made Veteran Pension recommendations. He was highly regarded due to his advocacy on behalf of the industry when it was facing government investigations concerning pricing during an inflation period in the 1970s.