Zack Hinton got his start in business in a modest way, buying a small grocery on McDonough's courthouse square in 1956.
Over the years, he expanded his operations to include the biggest supermarket of its era in Henry County, 17 Nite Owl convenience stores, several self-storage facilities, a liquor store, a diner and a share in a motel. He also co-founded a local bank, bought and sold commercial and residential property and partnered in the development of several Henry County lakefront subdivisions, Lake Dow North and South near McDonough and Mallard's Landing near Locust Grove.
Little wonder that in 2003 the McDonough City Council voted to rename a busy north-south street the Zack Hinton Parkway, in recognition of his enterprising ways.
Zack Berry Hinton, 78, of McDonough, died Tuesday at Sacred Journey Hospice of respiratory failure. His funeral is 11 a.m. Saturday at McDonough First United Methodist Church with burial to follow at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens. Cannon Cleveland Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.
McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland said Mr. Hinton, a friend of more than 60 years, had a powerful impact on the city.
"What a great boost Zack's businesses have been for McDonough's economy," he said. "And he was a great boss to work for, providing jobs for scores of our young people."
The mayor said that as a merchant, Mr. Hinton was a believer in the maxim that the customer was always right.
"If you couldn't find what you wanted at his store, that was a disappointment for Zack," he said. "He would tell you to come back the next day, and you could count on it being there."
Mr. Hinton went to great heights to promote his grocery business, often calling on his son, Zack "Zip" Hinton Jr. of Locust Grove, to pilot vintage airplanes over Henry County, trailing banners advertising special buys at his supermarket.
Tom Webb of Jackson, a longtime friend and business colleague, said Mr. Hinton was a man of vision when it came to buying property and enhancing its value. "Zack always went about it the right way. He was the kind of guy who gives developers a good name."
"Zack was not averse to taking calculated risks," said another friend and fellow investor, Bob Linch of McDonough. "Oh, a few didn't pan out, but for the most part they paid off. He was a businessman of the first order."
Jake Hinton of Locust Grove said his grandfather was the family's patriarch, "starting a tradition of entrepreneurship and instilling values of self-sufficiency and hard work in my father and myself. In addition, he did a lot of anonymous giving, loaning money to people in need knowing that he might never get it back."
His primary community commitment was to his church, First Methodist of McDonough, which he served as chair of its board of trustees and its finance committee and as its youth director. He and his wife were also longtime fundraisers for Henry County Medical Center, sponsoring a gala party year after year for the center's benefit.
Even on vacation, Mr. Hinton didn't pass up opportunities to do a little business. "Zack made frequent trips to Europe, and while there he bought a number of Mercedes, had them shipped to the States, refitted them to U.S. emission standards and then resold them. Always made money on them," Mr. Webb said.
Additional survivors include his wife, Laura Hinton; his daughter, Angie Hayes of Douglas; two sisters, Sara Upchurch and Margaret McGarity, both of McDonough; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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