John Sloan (businessman)

John Sloan (June 28, 1904 – March 15, 1988)[1] was an American businessman. He served as the president of Cain-Sloan, a department store in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1937 to 1970, including during the 1960 Nashville sit-ins. He was opposed to desegregation.

John Sloan
BornJune 28, 1904
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 1988 (aged 83)
Brentwood, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma materVanderbilt University
OccupationBusinessman
Spouse(s)Margaret Howe
Children4, including John Sloan Jr.

Early life

Sloan was born on June 28, 1904.[2] His father, Paul Sloan, was a co-founder of Cain-Sloan, a department store.[3] His paternal great-grandfather, George Sloan, was a friend of President James K. Polk.[4]

Sloan graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1925.[2][3]

Career

Sloan began his career as a salesman at Cain-Sloan. He served as its vice president from 1933 to 1937, and as its president from 1937 to 1970.[2][3] The company merged with Dillard's in 1987.

As president of Cain-Sloan during the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, Sloan argued that desegregation would be detrimental to the private sector.[5] He also conspired with James G. Stahlman to expel the leader of the sit-ins, James Lawson, from his alma mater, Vanderbilt University, on whose board of trust both men served.[5]

Sloan served as the president of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce in 1943.[2]

Personal life and death

Sloan married Margaret Howe. They had four sons, including John Sloan Jr., the president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business. They resided at Maple Grove, a farm in Brentwood, Tennessee.[2] Sloan was a co-founder of the Iroquois Steeplechase, and a member of the Belle Meade Country Club.[2]

Sloan died on March 15, 1988 in Brentwood.[2]

References
  1. "John E Sloan". Fold3. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. East, Jim (March 17, 1988). "John E. Sloan services set tomorrow". The Tennessean. pp. 1–2. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  3. "Mr. John Sloan will be missed". The Tennessean. March 18, 1988. p. 13. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Little, T. Vance (September 26, 2007). "All-night horse ride culminated with big dose of irony". The Tennessean. p. 13. Retrieved July 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Houston, Benjamin (2012). The Nashville Way: Racial Etiquette and the Struggle for Social Justice in a Southern City. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. pp. 106–107. ISBN 9780820343266. OCLC 940632744.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.