Grocer Trollie Cowart dies at 88
The Great Depression pushed Trollie Cowart into the grocery business, and he never left, his friend and business partner recalled yesterday.
In 1933, Cowart and Julian Jackson took jobs at a Jacksonville A&P store. They used the skills they picked up there to go into business for themselves, Jackson said, and by the 1980s they had built Lil' Champ into the region's most recognizable convenience store chain.
Cowart died Wednesday at his home two weeks after suffering a massive stroke. He was 88.
While they are known for the grocery business, Jackson said some of his best memories come from the days the pair owned the Jacksonville Beach Seabirds, a minor league baseball team. They sold the franchise in 1955 after two seasons.
In 1943, the pair started Jax Meat Co., which grew to eight groceries by the time they sold out in 1958. In 1959, Jackson founded Jacksons Minit Markets and hired Cowart as a vice president. Cowart followed Jackson again in 1971 when he started Lil' Champ. Cowart was a vice president and board member of Lil' Champ until he retired in 1985.
Cowart's wife of 56 years, Mary, died in 1989.
Surviving are two sons, Miles Cowart of Jacksonville and Craig O'Quinn Cowart of Tampa; two sisters, Freda Paulk of Miami and Eloise Baker of Jacksonville; three brothers, Earl Cowart of Jacksonville and David Cowart and Miles Cowart, both of Tampa; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4315 N. Main St. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville.
The Great Depression pushed Trollie Cowart into the grocery business, and he never left, his friend and business partner recalled yesterday.
In 1933, Cowart and Julian Jackson took jobs at a Jacksonville A&P store. They used the skills they picked up there to go into business for themselves, Jackson said, and by the 1980s they had built Lil' Champ into the region's most recognizable convenience store chain.
Cowart died Wednesday at his home two weeks after suffering a massive stroke. He was 88.
While they are known for the grocery business, Jackson said some of his best memories come from the days the pair owned the Jacksonville Beach Seabirds, a minor league baseball team. They sold the franchise in 1955 after two seasons.
In 1943, the pair started Jax Meat Co., which grew to eight groceries by the time they sold out in 1958. In 1959, Jackson founded Jacksons Minit Markets and hired Cowart as a vice president. Cowart followed Jackson again in 1971 when he started Lil' Champ. Cowart was a vice president and board member of Lil' Champ until he retired in 1985.
Cowart's wife of 56 years, Mary, died in 1989.
Surviving are two sons, Miles Cowart of Jacksonville and Craig O'Quinn Cowart of Tampa; two sisters, Freda Paulk of Miami and Eloise Baker of Jacksonville; three brothers, Earl Cowart of Jacksonville and David Cowart and Miles Cowart, both of Tampa; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4315 N. Main St. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Grocer Trollie Cowart dies at 88
The Great Depression pushed Trollie Cowart into the grocery business, and he never left, his friend and business partner recalled yesterday.
In 1933, Cowart and Julian Jackson took jobs at a Jacksonville A&P store. They used the skills they picked up there to go into business for themselves, Jackson said, and by the 1980s they had built Lil' Champ into the region's most recognizable convenience store chain.
Cowart died Wednesday at his home two weeks after suffering a massive stroke. He was 88.
While they are known for the grocery business, Jackson said some of his best memories come from the days the pair owned the Jacksonville Beach Seabirds, a minor league baseball team. They sold the franchise in 1955 after two seasons.
In 1943, the pair started Jax Meat Co., which grew to eight groceries by the time they sold out in 1958. In 1959, Jackson founded Jacksons Minit Markets and hired Cowart as a vice president. Cowart followed Jackson again in 1971 when he started Lil' Champ. Cowart was a vice president and board member of Lil' Champ until he retired in 1985.
Cowart's wife of 56 years, Mary, died in 1989.
Surviving are two sons, Miles Cowart of Jacksonville and Craig O'Quinn Cowart of Tampa; two sisters, Freda Paulk of Miami and Eloise Baker of Jacksonville; three brothers, Earl Cowart of Jacksonville and David Cowart and Miles Cowart, both of Tampa; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4315 N. Main St. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville.
The Great Depression pushed Trollie Cowart into the grocery business, and he never left, his friend and business partner recalled yesterday.
In 1933, Cowart and Julian Jackson took jobs at a Jacksonville A&P store. They used the skills they picked up there to go into business for themselves, Jackson said, and by the 1980s they had built Lil' Champ into the region's most recognizable convenience store chain.
Cowart died Wednesday at his home two weeks after suffering a massive stroke. He was 88.
While they are known for the grocery business, Jackson said some of his best memories come from the days the pair owned the Jacksonville Beach Seabirds, a minor league baseball team. They sold the franchise in 1955 after two seasons.
In 1943, the pair started Jax Meat Co., which grew to eight groceries by the time they sold out in 1958. In 1959, Jackson founded Jacksons Minit Markets and hired Cowart as a vice president. Cowart followed Jackson again in 1971 when he started Lil' Champ. Cowart was a vice president and board member of Lil' Champ until he retired in 1985.
Cowart's wife of 56 years, Mary, died in 1989.
Surviving are two sons, Miles Cowart of Jacksonville and Craig O'Quinn Cowart of Tampa; two sisters, Freda Paulk of Miami and Eloise Baker of Jacksonville; three brothers, Earl Cowart of Jacksonville and David Cowart and Miles Cowart, both of Tampa; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4315 N. Main St. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville.
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