Dr. John T. Mentzer

Dr. John T. Mentzer, Chancellor’s Professor and Harry J. and Vivienne R. Bruce Chair of Excellence in Business in the Department of Marketing & Logistics at the University of Tennessee passed away in his Knoxville home on Friday morning, February 26th. Dr. Mentzer was a preeminent scholar. Each day he exemplified the best of the business academic discipline, consistently contributing through teaching, application and discovery. His presence was in great demand by a broad range of audiences, ranging from undergraduate students to CEO’s of multinational corporations. He approached the business world as a laboratory, enabling him to integrate theoretical insights with cutting edge practices. The knowledge he generated helped facilitate his impressive teaching and research record. He unselfishly extended those benefits to include his colleagues, here at the University of Tennessee and elsewhere in business and academe.

In addition to his commitment to scholarship, Dr. Mentzer passionately served his institution and his discipline. Over the years he held key leadership roles including the President of the Academy of Marketing Science, President of the Council of Logistics Management and Executive Director for the University of Tennessee Demand & Supply Integration Forums. While serving in high-level positions, he continued to chair a variety of university committees, author impactful books and articles, and serve on many editorial review and advisory boards. He received numerous awards in the fields of Marketing and Supply Chain Management including the Berkman Distinguished Service Award for lifetime service to the Academy of Marketing Science in 2008, the Armitage Medal of the International Society of Logistics Engineers, and the Council of Logistics Management’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004. To garner such recognition in one discipline is a great accomplishment, to be so highly recognized in two competitive disciplines is extraordinary. He leaves a lasting legacy as mentor to dozens of former doctoral students now serving as faculty at institutions around the world.

In addition to Dr. Mentzer’s numerous awards and achievements, he will be most remembered for positively touching the lives and careers of those around him. Countless people benefitted from the kindness of Tom Mentzer. This perhaps stands as his greatest attribute, appropriately reflecting his mission to live an impactful life.

He was a loving husband, father, son and friend and he will be deeply missed by family, students, and colleagues. He is survived by his wife, Brenda and daughters Ashley and Erin, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and his mother Minnie and sister Susan, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Services will be held at the Cokesbury United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee at 11:00am, Saturday March 6th, 2010.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers contributions be sent to the Tom & Brenda Mentzer Scholarship Fund, College of Business Administration, University of Tennessee, or the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

Learning to Celebrate Life

In January, Dr Mentzer wrote an inspiring 53-page ‘book’ of his life, his ordeal, and his beliefs. The work entitled “Learning to Celebrate Life” is about keeping your glass half-full (celebrating life) versus half-empty (enduring life). Dr. Mentzer asked that this be shared and to reach as many people as possible. CSCMP is happy that we are able to fulfill his wish by placing it here.