Introduction
John Gerald Schwegmann (August 12, 1911—March 6, 1995) was an American businessman and politician. He was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana Public Service Commission. In 1971, he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Louisiana. Additionally, he founded Schwegmann Bank & Trust Co. As a businessman and a chief executive officer of Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets, he at times challenged the fair trade laws.
Early life and education
John Schwegmann was born on August 14, 1911, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to John William Schwegmann and Marie Margaretha Frey Schwegmann. His father had a small grocery store at Burgundy and Piety streets in New Orleans.
Schwegmann attended a grammar school. Then, he spent one year at a high school at Holy Cross and six months at Soule College, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Career
Business
Schwegmann began his career working for the U.S. Post Office. He then landed a salesman job for a margarine manufacturer and also worked for Canal Bank & Trust Co., which closed in 1933. After that, worked in real estate until 1939 and subsequently joined his father's grocery store. In that store, the Schwegmanns introduced self-service shopping to their customers.
On August 23, 1946, John and his two brothers, Anthony and Paul, opened the first Schwegmann Brothers Giant Super Market at Elysian Fields and St. Claude avenues. John served as the store's CEO. They expanded their grocery business to a chain, serving the New Orleans metropolitan area, with one location in Baton Rouge. Before the business folded in 1997, Schwegmann Giant Super Markets had grown to 18 stores with 5,000 employees. The chain developed significant innovations in grocery retailing and influenced other big box retailers that emerged in the latter 20th century and early 21st century.
Schwegmann also founded Schwegmann Bank & Trust Co., which was later acquired by Jefferson Guaranty Bank.
Litigation
In 1948, Schwegmann entered the litigation field. The Legislature had passed a law requiring a minimum markup on alcoholic beverages at all levels of the merchandising chain. Schwegmann convinced stores should be able to set their own prices and volunteered to be a test case opposing the law.
Politics
Schwegmann entered politics in 1955 with an unsuccessful race for a Jefferson Parish seat in the state Senate. After an unsuccessful campaign in 1959 for the Jefferson Parish presidency, he won a seat in the state House in 1961. In 1968, he was elected to the state Senate. In 1971, he unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Louisiana, but in 1975, he was elected to the Public Service Commission. However, his political run was cut short after he suffered strokes in 1977 and 1978. In October 1980, he resigned from the commission. His son was elected to the same seat seven months later.
Personal life
Schwegmann was married twice. In 1942, he married Mary Elizabeth Geisenheimer Schwegmann (1917–1994), a native of New Orleans. The two had met at a dance school when he was establishing his grocery business. They had two sons—John and Guy Schwegmann.
In 1951, he married Melba Wolfe (1926–1994), also a native of New Orleans. Melba died of cancer in 1994 at the age of 67. They had a daughter, Margie.
Death
Schwegmann passed away on March 6, 1995, in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 83.