Stephen G. Sheetz, former president, CEO, and chairman of Sheetz, Inc., has died at age 77. The company announced his passing on Thursday, remembering him as a visionary leader who helped shape the Altoona-based convenience store chain into a regional powerhouse.
Sheetz began working at the family business at just 12 years old, eventually helping grow the company from four stores to over 100 by the early 1980s. He served as president and CEO from 1984 to 1995, overseeing a period of rapid expansion and innovation, including the launch of Sheetz’s Made-to-Order food program and entry into the fuel business.
Even after stepping down from executive roles, Sheetz continued to guide the company as chairman of its board and later as head of CLI Transport and the Sheetz Family Committee. Current President and CEO Travis Sheetz called his uncle “the center of our family,” praising his “steadfast commitment to our employees, customers, and communities.”
A dedicated philanthropist, Sheetz and his wife, Nancy, founded the Sheetz Fellows Program and the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence at Penn State Altoona, and were named Penn State’s Philanthropists of the Year in 2010.
Sheetz is survived by Nancy, their two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
