PARTNERSA Publication by the H.C.S.C. Alumni Club, Inc. for retired JCPenney National Members SPRING 2021 Editor’s Note hank you! Thank you another organization you belong for the great feedback to has been doing some of these SPRING 2021 kinds of things. Wynn Watkins Volume 119 Issue 1 regarding the “At Home Edition” of (Deep South RMG) helped Partners! Those we heard from generate some ideas by sharing were very pleased to see the “Mr. what one of his other groups was ContentsFEATURES doing. Penney Memories,” as well as Tthe “What’s Happening During the Pandemic” experiences you Tom Clarke, our Membership shared. Both of these features Director, has been reaching out to may be continued in upcoming our longer-term members to have issues for a while and we are them provide their birth dates to adding another feature: stories verify their possible recognition about your experiences during in the Century Club. If you, or your working days. As the someone you know in your RMG, Phil and Bunny Esch title indicates, Partners is a is approaching age 90, please publication that is for us and about let Tom know, so they can be us, so please let Jeannette Siegel included. hear from you at jsiegel93@gmail. com. We will eventually come out of this challenging era and be As you have also noticed, we’ve able to come together in social added some nostalgic/historical gatherings once again. I so look 26 J.C. Penney Statue 35 I remember when... 58 Mary Frances Penney J. C. Penney - the man and the forward to that time, as the real benefit of belonging to H.C.S.C. The J. C. Penney Statue has Hear from four of our JCPenney Mary Frances Penney Wagley, the Corporation - articles to remind is the people – the partners we arrived in Kemmerer, Wyoming. alumni and the memories they last surviving daughter of Penney, us of the wonderful company have known and have come to Find out more about the journey have while they were on the job. a trailblazer for women and a at which we spent much of our know during our careers and since there and how to help the Penney lifelong educator has died. Read lifetimes. retiring. Statue settle in to its new location! more about her remarkable life. I want to encourage each RMG to take advantage of the technology Wishing you wellness and hope in (i.e. Zoom, etc.) to connect with this new year, IN THIS ISSUE your members and provide opportunities for staying in touch. For example, the Southwest 4 Membership 38 Mile High Denver RMG, under Jan Hodges and Phil Esch, President 6 Profiles her leadership team, has put National H.C.S.C. Alumni Club 39 North Central together a twelve-month calendar 24 Penney Memories 40 Southern California of activities, a few “live” breakfasts PLEASE NOTE: Going forward, 30 During the Pandemic 42 Southeastern and lunches (when possible and only those members who are safe), as well as several Zoom 49 Foundation 45 Southwest current with their H.C.S.C. activities, such as a University of National Dues or who are 51 Donors North Texas Fashion Collection honorary members will continue 52 In Memoriam 30 presentation plus others. to receive the Partners magazine, obtain the Fifty-Year Pin These types of occasions allow us recognition, or be inducted into the to maintain the close relationships Century Club. Since we no longer we have so enjoyed to help us collect financial support from the all get through these challenging Company, the club has had to FROM THE COVER: Photo by Charlota Blunarova on Unsplash times. Get creative! Maybe absorb the cost of these activities. 2 / PARTNERS / Spring 2021 JCPAlumniClub.org / PARTNERS / 3 New Members! Recruit Today! National H.C.S.C. Membership Drive Our National H.C.S.C. Alumni Club has provided us with many opportunities to stay connected and enjoy the camaraderie that we experienced during our working years at JCPenney. We want to invite more former New Members! associates to join in those experiences and are launching a national membership drive to add new members to our organization. Please welcome our newest members to the National H.C.S.C. Alumni Club. Steve Strom with the Mile High Denver/Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting Group is the leader of the drive, but These members joined during 2020 and during January 2021. everyone’s help is needed to make the drive a success. The time frame of the drive is April and May 2021. Ault, Damon C. Hansen, Janice Romero, Richard Aus, Sherry Hansen, Merle Rosa, Jr., Frank Each RMG will have a goal based on its size. Barcelo, Lydia (Lilly) Hansen, Michelle Ruppert, Leslie D’Ann Bishop, Ed Harris, Margaret Sanville, Debra Each current member will be encouraged to reach out to potential new members to provide H.C.S.C. Bobola, Bonnie L. Harrison, Antonia Perrina Schmidt, Todd information and applications to those who are interested. Here are some ways to reach out to potential Bohn, Ken Haws, Irv Shane, Cheryl members and create that interest: Boyle, Virginia K. Helm, Christophe Alan Sheets, Tina Jo Chairs, Rosetta Holland, David Thornton Smith, Carol Marie • Invite potential new members to RMG events and activities as guests. Encourage active members to “bring Clarke, Jr., Thomas Houston, George Smith, James A. a guest” to your events. Colver, Josette Hughes, Brenda Smith, Marie • Invite local store managers or district managers to RMG events. Inquire about upcoming retirements in their Delgado, Connie Jeziorski, David Sollars, Rebecca store/district. Contact potential new retirees. DePhillips, Deborah Ann Johnsrud, Jim Sottilare, Susan • Provide “First Year Free” incentive to potential new members waiving both the National and RMG first year Dorminy, Beverly Jones, Earlie Stacey, Lynn dues. Dotson, Caryl Leach, Cindy L. Stephenson, Erik Duncan, Charlene Lemond, Ed Sullins, Scott There will be two levels of recognition---for the RMGs and for individuals. All RMG medal winners and Elertson, Monica Lott, Wilneta L. Taylor, Lisa individuals will be recognized in Summer Partners magazine. Elwell, Michael J. McEuin, Sage Thigpen, Elaine Felton, Hattie M. Miller, Doyle Thomas, Dorothy Ann RMGs will be recognized for achieving goals with a framed certificate in addition to the following: Frazier, Tonita L. Morris, Carol Toney, Timothy Fry, Dawn A. Nelson, Tyler Traore, Issiaga • 100% or better of goal – Gold Medal Gallagher, John Paysen, Jeff Traylor, William T. • 75% of goal – Silver Medal Garrison, Beth Ann Penny, Tim Turner, Marion • 50% of goal – Bronze Medal Glasscock, Carol Perez, Adriana Wenger, Paula Gomon, Rick Peterson, Melissa Willemarck, Dawn The individual RMG member in each RMG that recruits the highest number of new members for the H.C.S.C. Gray, Bradley Ralph, Susan Wilson, Linda M. Club will receive a certificate and free National and RMG dues for 2022. The winners will also be featured in the Guerra, Michael Reinking, Kimberley Winge, Paul A. Summer 2021 issue of Partners magazine. Hampson, Sherbie Richardson, Douglas Start making your list of potential members now. Your RMG president will be in touch with you before the April kickoff. If you have any questions, contact Steve Strom at [email protected]. 4 / PARTNERS / Spring 2021 JCPAlumniClub.org / PARTNERS / 5 Profile Bill Alcorn So, in 1983, Bill became the Controller of the Catalog Division, which included a move to the New York Office. This was a great move as he participated on the Catalog Executive Committee and experienced being a part of managing a business. These early Bill with Tom Hutchins, Gale Duff Bloom, Bargar Tygart moves allowed Bill to work with many terrific ill was born in 1948 in the small coal mining Bill and Patti and Jim Oesterricher individuals including W.R. Howell, Rod Birkins, Pete town of Hazard, Kentucky. His family moved Fenlon, Bill Kelly, Dave Miller and many others. to Florida in 1959 where his Mom applied for and was hired to work at the local Later, Bill became the Assistant Controller moving JCPenney store. Bill’s connection to JCPenney thus back to Dallas with the Company move. Next up, VP began. and Director for the Credit Division. He had a great B team and benefited from reporting into Ted Spurlock Bill went to the University of Florida, majoring in and Bob Northam. Accounting. He worked part time at the Clearwater JCPenney store with Jim Barnes as store manager. Then in 1996, Bill became the VP, Controller and As graduation was approaching, Bill interviewed with Chief Accounting Officer. Bill considers himself very the VP and Director of Auditing Chuck Brown. Being fortunate to be the Controller when Allen Questrom impressed with the people he worked with and the became Chair and CEO, a great learning experience. Company, when offered the job, Bill accepted and In 2003, during a conversation, Allen told Bill he in 1971 began his full-time career as an Auditor in Presenting scholarship at University of Florida wanted him to be the SVP, Chief Purchasing Officer Florida. Bill at podium of the Company, a new position. The responsibility would be the procurement of all goods and services In late 1973 Bill was promoted to Supervising Auditor for the Company other than the merchandise for sale. moving to Atlanta. Just one issue with the move–Bill After saying yes to this new position, Bill remembers had met Patti who worked in a JCPenney store and asking Allen “Who will be the Controller??” Allen’s they were dating, so the move was a problem. Bill response was “Well, you will – is that a problem??” proposed and he and Patti were married in 1974 and Bill responded “No problem!!” have been happily married 46 years.