12/7/99
SEARS CHAIRMAN RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE AWARD
AUBURN -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. Chairman Arthur C. Martinez has been honored by Auburn University with its College of Human Sciences' sixth annual International Quality of Life Award.
The award was presented during a program on Monday (Dec. 6) at the United Nations in New York. Martinez, chairman and chief executive officer of the 113- year-old retail company, was honored for his commitment to continuing the retailer's legacy of support for women and families, diversity and volunteerism.
The International Quality of Life Award was established in 1994 by AU'S College of Human Sciences to honor those who make significant contributions to the well-being of others both professionally and personally.
"Arthur Martinez's personal beliefs reflect the corporate social conscience of Sears, and both the company and Mr. Martinez have provided considerable support to a variety of social and educational not-for-profit organizations," said AU College of Human Sciences Dean June Henton. "It is with pride that we acknowledge Mr. Martinez for his tireless work on behalf of those less fortunate."
Martinez, who became chairman and CEO in 1995, says he is continually inspired by Sears' key target customer -- women.
"In many cases, she is the sole parent at home," he said. "Her ability to balance the needs of her family with the demands of her career or job amazes me."
Martinez learned first-hand about those demands from his mother, who emigrated to the United States from Ireland.
"Both my parents understood that for many Americans, poverty, prejudice and a lack of education were barriers to achieving any such opportunity," he said. "In turn, my mom and dad instilled in me their social convictions and a sense of community while I was still very young.
That early influence has remained with Martinez, through his military service in the Army and his corporate career, where he previously was vice chairman of Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, a member of it's board of directors and senior vice president and group chief executive for the retail division of BATUS, Inc.
As Sears CEO, Martinez heads an organization that serves customers across America through a network of more than 850 department stores, 2,100 specialty stores and several e-commerce businesses.
Martinez is a member of the board of directors of PepsiCo, Inc., Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the National Urban League. He is also a trustee of Northwestern University, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is deputy chairman of The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
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Past International Quality of Life Award winners include:
** 1998:Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu and athlete-turned child advocate Vincent "Bo" Jackson ** 1997: Robert D. Haas, chairman and chief executive officer, Levi Strauss & Co. ** 1996: William R. Howell, chairman, JC Penney ** 1995: Elmer Harris, president and CEO, Alabama Power Company; Lawrence Klein, the Benjamin Franklin Professor of Economics and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and a Nobel Laureate; and Don Logan, president and CEO, Time Inc. ** 1994: Catherine Bertini, executive director of the United National World Food Program; John Adams, president, chairman and CEO, the Russell Corporation; and Horst Schulze, president and chief operating officer, Ritz Carlton Hotel Company
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CONTACT: Linda Brown Blakley, Sears Corporate Public Relations, 847/286-8862 (lblake1@sears.com).