Macon Foscue Brock Jr.

1942 - 2017

Macon Foscue Brock, Jr.

Virginia Beach - Virginia Beach philanthropist Macon Foscue Brock Jr., who cofounded the nation's largest chain of fixed-price variety stores, then gave away millions of dollars to Virginia colleges, arts organizations and environmental causes, died Saturday morning in the Oceanfront home he shared with his wife, Joan.

His death ends a seven-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis, which he waged while remaining adventurous, social and physically active. He was 75.

Born in Norfolk on April 11, 1942, Macon was the youngest of three children, and the only son, born to Dr. M. Foscue Brock and Clara Prichard Brock. He graduated from Granby High School in 1960, and from Randolph-Macon College four years later. He married Joan Elizabeth Perry, whom he'd known since eighth grade, while on liberty from Marine Corps officer training on November 28, 1964.

Macon served in Vietnam as a Marine captain in 1966-67. Upon completion of his service, he worked as a Naval Intelligence officer before joining his father-in-law, Kenneth Perry, in Mr. Perry's variety retail business, a former Ben Franklin store at Ward's Corner in Norfolk. Along with his brother-in-law, he expanded the business into K&K Toys, which grew into a chain of 136 stores in 15 states.

In 1986, he, Doug Perry and partner Ray Compton founded a sideline business that many in the retail industry scoffed at: a chain of small stores offering quality goods at a single, impossibly low price-point-one dollar. Five years later, with the seemingly loopy idea quickly becoming a mercantile juggernaut, he and his partners sold K&K Toys, using the proceeds to further nourish the company now known as Dollar Tree.

As the company's merchandiser, Macon-often with Joan at his side-traveled throughout Asia, Europe and South America in search of the products that soon drew customers to Dollar Tree stores by the millions.

In 1995, when Dollar Tree went public, Macon was named president and CEO, and oversaw the chain's rapid expansion. He became chairman of the company's board in 2001, and served in that capacity until October 2017-by which time Dollar Tree was a Fortune 200 company with 13,600 stores in 48 states and Canada. He chronicled the story of the company's founding and ascent in his book One Buck At a Time, co-authored with Earl Swift.

Macon shared his good fortune, becoming a leading benefactor to the causes he held dear. He was a longtime champion of his alma matter, Randolph-Macon: He chaired the Board of Trustees for ten years, and was instrumental in reimagining the campus and student life with the addition of several buildings and a student center.

At Eastern Virginia Medical School, he helped create the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health, named for his father. In Virginia Beach, he and Joan made the lead gift in establishing the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Brock Environmental Center, and took pride in the dramatic structure's certification as "a living building" with the highest environmental standards in accordance with The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. He and Joan shared a passion for American art, an interest that propelled them to support several campaigns at the Chrysler Museum of Art, and to chair its Board of Directors.

Primarily, they were champions of higher education, and gave transformative gifts to Longwood University, Joan's alma mater, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Wesleyan College, where they established the Center for Religious Freedom. Macon was instrumental in bringing the College Access Foundation program to Virginia Beach which provides college tuition monies to Virginia Beach students.

Macon was dedicated to his community and worked to make it a better place. For his consistent leadership and community support, Macon was honored by the Virginia Beach Jaycees as the First Citizen of Virginia Beach in 2009. Later in 2015, the Brocks received The Darden Award for Regional Leadership from the Civic Leadership Institute and were nationally recognized as Philanthropists of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Macon lived life fully. He threw himself into both work and leisure with great joie de vivre and humor. Whether riding his Harley across the West, hiking or skiing the Tetons, captaining a whitewater raft down the Snake River, or roasting oysters with friends and family on the beach in Corolla, he lived adventurously. No matter the occasion, he had the right words at the right time, and he was the life and driver of every party.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan Perry Brock; children Kathryn Everett and husband Tony Everett of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Christy Miele and husband Donaldson Miele of San Juan Capistrano, California, and Macon Brock III and wife Kristen Brock of Newport Beach, California; sisters Pat Robertson and Sally White and husband Hal White; and six grandchildren-Lucy and Will Everett, Kate and Jacqueline Miele, and Chloe and Braden Brock.

A memorial service for Macon will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 16, at the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach on Atlantic Avenue, followed by a reception celebrating his life at Princess Anne Country Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation to support scholarships to Randolph Macon College. (Hampton Roads Community Foundation, 101 West Main St., Norfolk, VA 23510)

The family would like to thank the Lung Transplant Program at the Cleveland Clinic, led by Dr. Marie Budev; and doctors Charles Lisner, Thomas Alberico, Fletcher Pierce and Michael Ryan of Hampton Roads. They thank Jodi Cutler and Danielle Lorenz, too, for their compassion and care during Macon's illness. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Rd Chapel is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.