Jump to content

Dan Evins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Alaney2k (talk | contribs) at 18:49, 2 January 2021 (names of newspapers, replaced: =New York Times → =The New York Times, =Washington Post → =The Washington Post). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Dan Evins
BornOctober 11, 1935
Smithville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJanuary 14, 2012(2012-01-14) (aged 76)
Lebanon, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma materAuburn University
OccupationBusinessman
RelativesJames Edgar Evins (paternal grandfather)
Joe L. Evins (paternal uncle)

Danny Wood Evins (October 11, 1935 – January 14, 2012) was an American entrepreneur and co-founder of Cracker Barrel, a Southern-themed restaurant chain.

Early life

Evins was born in Smithville, Tennessee, on October 11, 1935.[1] As a child he graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee.[2] He enlisted in the US Army, served in Korea in the Corps of Engineers and attended Auburn University.[1]

Career

Evins also worked as an aide for his uncle, U.S. Rep. Joe L. Evins, before taking a position with his family's oil company.[1]

Evins co-founded Cracker Barrel in 1969 while he was working for Shell Oil. He opened the first restaurant in Lebanon, Tennessee, on Tennessee State Route 109.[3] He borrowed $40,000 to construct the first Cracker Barrel, which turned a profit just one month after opening.[4]

Evins was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cracker Barrel from its founding in 1969 to 2001, and after a shareholder exodus due to his discriminatory policies , he was chairman of the board from 2001 until his retirement in 2004.[3] During this time he was also served as chairman of the board of directors for Castle Heights Military Academy while his son was enrolled in the school.[2]

In 1998, Evans led the drive by Cracker Barrel to purchase and restore the Mitchell House in Lebanon, Tennessee. The home had been a dormitory for elementary age students while Castle Heights Military Academy had been operating.[2] The company spent two million dollars to restore the home and make it the company's corporate office.[5]

By January 2012, Cracker Barrel had more than 67,000 employees working in more than 600 restaurants in 42 U.S. states.[1][3][4]

Personal life

On January 14, 2012, Evins died at his daughter's home in Lebanon, Tennessee, at the age of 76.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Langer, Emily (2012-01-16). "Dan Evins, founder of Cracker Barrel highway empire, dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  2. ^ a b c Felkins, Jared (November 8, 2013). "Cracker Barrel sells Mitchell House to fraternity". Lebanon Democrat. Lebanon, Tennessee. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Cracker Barrel's Founder Dan Evins Dies At 76". WTVF. 2012-01-15. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  4. ^ a b Martin, Douglas (2012-01-16). "Danny Evins, Restaurant Founder and Focus of Controversy, Dies at 76". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  5. ^ "Mitchell House, Cracker Barrell". Manous Design.


Stub icon

This article about a chief executive from the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This article about an American businessperson born in the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dan_Evins&oldid=997887284"