John William Teets Jr.

John William Teets Jr. John William Teets Jr. is in the presence of the Lord after a valiant battle with Alzheimer's. As he faced the biggest challenge of his life, he did it with his signature "can do" spirit, positive attitude and focused determination. He started from humble beginnings but knew he could achieve anything to which he put his mind to. He was born and raised in Elgin, Illinois; attending Elgin High School where he was a four year letterman in track excelling in high hurdles; easily a metaphor for his entire life. At an early age he developed a lifelong interest in weightlifting and body building. John served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany as part of the Signal Corps. At age 22 he joined the Masonic Lodge and went on to become a 33 degree Mason. He was conferred with the Grand Cross of Masonry in 2001. John was a renowned public speaker as evidenced by his receiving the Forbes Magazine Award for Top Business Speaker of the Year (1990). His confident and effective delivery has been attributed to his Dale Carnegie training. His career in the restaurant industry began at the age of 14 when he worked as a dessert boy at the Milk Pail Restaurant in Dundee, Illinois. He was made manager of the Cock-O-Doodle Restaurant at age 19, co-owner of the Winter Garden Restaurant with Leonard Besinger at the age of 25 and by age 31 he joined the Greyhound Corporation to run their two restaurants at the New York World's Fair in 1964-1965. After the World's Fair, his corporate career took off when he was made President of the Greyhound Corporation subsidiary Post Houses and Horne's Enterprises, becoming the youngest subsidiary president in Greyhounds history. John left Greyhound in 1971 to become President of the John R. Thompson Company. Under his leadership, the company developed the Henrici's Steak & Lobster House Restaurants, the Red Balloon Restaurants, and a line of gourmet frozen foods under the Holloway House brand. At the Canteen Corporation, a division of ITT, John was President of Jacques French Restaurant Group which consisted of 16 restaurants, as well as the food facilities at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Lincoln Center in NewYork. In 1976 he rejoined the Greyhound Corporation as President of Greyhound Food Management. In 1980 he was named Group Vice President of services overseeing aircraft ground services, cruise ships, gift shops, airport duty-free shops and their service businesses. John succeeded Jerry Trautman as CEO in 1981 at the age of 48 and assumed title of Chairman of the Board in 1982. During his tenure the company was restructured and renamed the Dial Corp. and later the Viad Corp. John was not only a successful businessman, he was deeply committed and dedicated to the success of his community. As Chairman of Dial Corp, John oversaw contributions to charitable organizations throughout Arizona in excess of $36 million dollars. Along with supporting charities and cultural activities that included the Crisis Nursery, the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, the Foundation for the Blind and the Phoenix Zoo, he made efforts to ensure that Phoenix would continue as a profitable and growing city. He helped keep the NBA Phoenix Suns basketball team in the Valley; sponsored the TV rights for the Phoenix Open, and became the first corporate investor of the new Arizona Diamondbacks. He received many awards over his lifetime, but some of his highest accolades included receiving the food service industry's coveted Gold Plate Award; Leaders Magazine "CEO of the Year"Award; "Officer of the Royal Order of the Crown of Belgium"; the "Ellis Island Medal of Honor"; The American Academy of Achievement Award; The 2008 Milton Friedman Transformation Leader Award; as well as numerous Honorary Doctorate Degrees. Whilehis accomplishments were many, meeting Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan ranked at the top. In addition, John was extremely honored when the efforts of a group of Viad executives and staff resulted in a Phoenix Park named the John William Teets Park. John's major passion outside of business and family was golf. Highlights included getting a hole-in-one on the Pebble Beach Golf Course, followed by a second hole-in-one on his home course at the Paradise Valley Country Club. He had an extensive collection of Empire clocks of the Napoleonic Era, and was pleased to have them on exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum. John lived his life guided by his "Silent Partner," Jesus Christ. He believed everyone has a spiritual side as well as a physical side, and its a matter of how one develops it. He put God first, family second and business third. God called John William Teets Jr. home on August 5, 2011.He shares a special place in heaven with his father, John William Teets Sr; his mother, Maudie McRoy Teets; his brother Richard Carl Teets and his first wife Betty Nielsen Teets. John will be missed by his loving wife Nancy and his four daughters: Jerri Shields (Rich), Valerie Ogden, Heidi Teets, Suzanne Martin (Hayes), his five grandchildren and two brothers James Teets (Trish), David Teets, and brother-in-law Bill Kerchenfaut. Special thanks go to The Banner Alzheimer's Institute, specifically Dr. Pierre Tariot and Jan Dougherty, as well as to the incredible support and care from Hospice of the Valley. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Banner Alzheimer's Institute or Hospice of the Valley. Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, August 11th, at 3:00 pm at Scottsdale Bible Church, located at 7601 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona. Arrangements are being handled by Green Acres Mortuary of Scottsdale.

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