Jethro Pugh, a former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman who opened and operated several retail stores at Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) as an Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise partner of Paradies, died this week at 70.
Pugh had worked in several industries during the offseason when he was still playing football. He got into airports after the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce sponsored a bus tour of the then much-less-developed DFW, which was actively seeking participation from minority-owned businesses.
“I figured if Jesse Jackson could run for president, maybe I can take a chance on airports,” Pugh told ARN last year.
He signed his first lease in 1983, opening the first Jethro Pugh Gift Shop shortly thereafter. He hired a manager and went to work selling real estate, but after that manager left to be a stay-at-home mother, he took over management.
He stayed involved at various levels for much of the next three decades, eventually entering a partnership with Paradies. His holdings grew to seven retail locations that included Western-themed stores, Texas-related souvenir shops, newsstands, a tea store and a Brooks Brothers. Paradies officials remember Pugh as a good business partner and a great person with a positive outlook on life.
“We were so saddened to learn of Jethro Pugh’s passing,” says Gregg Paradies, president and CEO. “Not only was Jethro our business partner for over 25 years, he was our dear friend and part of the family. Jethro was always so positive and infectious. He never had a bad day! He was selfless, thrived on helping others and led by example. Jethro was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.”
Pugh’s son, Jethro Pugh III, known as Trey, has taken over operations in recent years. But the elder Pugh, in tandem with Paradies, had stayed actively involved in the Jethro Pugh/Two Podners golf tournament, which has raised more than $1 million for the United Negro College Fund.
“I asked him once about what the tournament meant to him and he answered, ‘As a young person, I received tremendous support from others. This is my simple way of returning that gift,’” says Rick Lillie, retired vice president of business development for Paradies. “That passion fueled the success of his tournament.”
