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Harry B. Cunningham (1907 in Pennsylvania – November 11, 1992 in North Palm Beach, Florida) was an American businessman and retailer who founded Kmart in 1962, along with S. S. Kresge. Cunningham had a vision to convert the retail chain into a discounter. At the time, Cunningham was sharply criticized by some, including Kresge shareholders, as possibly destroying the company. The success of Kmart proved his vision.

He was president of the company from 1959 to 1972, having joined the retailer as an assistant store manager in 1930. Cunningham was credited by Sam Walton as being the first to design a discount store. Walton added that Cunningham should be remembered as one of the leading retailers of all time. Cunningham and Walton both visited, and were impressed by, the early and innovative discounter Ann & Hope in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

References

1. Sam Walton: Made in America, John Huey & Sam Walton (1993), ISBN 0-553-56283-5

External links

• 20th Century Great American Business Leaders
• Chicago tribune obituary
• New York Times obituary

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• 1907 births
• 1992 deaths
• American businesspeople in retailing
• 20th-century American businesspeople
• Businesspeople from Pennsylvania
• Kmart
• People from North Palm Beach, Florida
• American business biography, 1900s birth stubs