WASHINGTON, MAY 20, 2004—Ed Feulner, president of The Heritage Foundation, today issued the following statement on the passing of honorary Heritage Trustee Jack Eckerd:

“Few embodied that all-American ‘can-do’ spirit of free enterprise and individual accomplishment better than Jack Eckerd. A self-made businessman who gave generously to his community, he exemplified what makes America great. His is a classic success story. His achievements in the public and private spheres—from launching the drug-store chain that bears his name to establishing a camp for troubled children and contributing so freely to local charities and to Eckerd College, which he rescued from bankruptcy in 1971—will continue inspiring others to build, innovate and serve.

“We at The Heritage Foundation owe Jack a special debt of gratitude. It was Jack who, while serving on our Board of Trustees in 1979, suggested that we draw up a plan of action that would help a conservative president succeed in office. That resulted in our first ‘Mandate for Leadership,’ a comprehensive policy guide dubbed the “bible” of the Reagan administration by The Washington Post—a guide that put Heritage on the map. For that, and for countless other contributions, we’ll always be grateful to Jack.”