Stephen LaFrance, Sr., the founder of USA Drug who opened the franchise's first store in Pine Bluff in 1984, has died. He was 71.
Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley said LaFrance died early Wednesday at his Pine Bluff home. The cause of death wasn't immediately known, but Kelley said it was natural.
LaFrance formed the company in 1968, adding wholesale distribution company SAJ Distributors in the mid-1970s.
By the time Walgreen's bought Stephen L. LaFrance Holdings Inc. in a $438 million deal last July, LaFrance's company owned 144 stores under the names of USA Drug, Super D Drug, May’s Drug, Med-X and Drug Warehouse in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee, including 47 stores in 29 Arkansas cities.
Funeral arrangements will be set by Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Home.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more details.