“Howdee Folks!” Those were the famous opening words of News Topics Within The Company, the publication that preceded Publix News.

Former Vice President Bill Hollis launched News Topics May 29, 1947. These news bulletins were issued each week and included fun challenges, associate announcements like births and marriages, an occasional joke or two, and the top performing stores.

Are you interested in what news there was to share the week of May 29, 1947? Take a trip back to the ‘40s and read the first Publix bulletin below.

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Read more about what happened this month in Publix’s history.

• May 27, 1969 — On this date, #150, Tallahassee, Florida, opened. This 48,000-square-foot store was the largest in the chain and furthest from Lakeland (300 miles). Its innovations included mercury vapor lighting, upright frozen food cases with self-closing doors, a larger deli and 35,000 square feet of warehouse space in the basement.
• May 28, 1989 — The discontinuation of S&H Green Stamps began in the Southeast Coast Division (now known as the Miami Division). The other two divisions stopped giving green stamps in 1986. Publix started giving S&H Green Stamps in 1953.
• May 31, 1991 — Vice President of Administration Ernestine Tye, the first female officer at Publix, announced her retirement.
• May 1, 2001 — Publix held the groundbreaking ceremony for our current corporate office in Lakeland, Florida.
• May 15, 2001 — At the stockholders’ meeting, Howard Jenkins announced he would retire as CEO. He would continue to serve Publix as chairman of the board. Charlie Jenkins became CEO.
• May 14, 2008 — During the annual retail operations conference, CEO Ed Crenshaw announced to managers they would no longer be required to wear ties when wearing an approved Publix-embroidered BARM shirt.
• May 3, 2014 — Casey Suarez began his role as vice president of distribution.
• May 14, 2014 — United Way Worldwide recognized Publix and 10 other companies as Outstanding Strategic Partners. Publix was specifically recognized for our long-term commitment to kids and Born Learning, United Way’s early childhood education engagement campaign

Publix News Live: Publix News to You

A lot has changed since then, especially with how Publix News is developed. Learn what goes into making these issues memorable each month by watching Publix News Live.