Article Number: 3492
Thomas Sandifer, Chairman, CEO of Cain & Bultman
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA.— Thomas Sandifer was an accomplished and effective businessman and his concern for people gained him the admiration of his colleagues and respect of his competitors. In a career that spanned almost a half century, he served with one company— Cain & Bultman—where he began as a salesman and was CEO and chairman when he succumbed on June 23 after a long battle with cancer. He was 72.
A lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Sandifer graduated from Landon High School and attended the University of Florida. In 1957, he joined the Marine Corps, where he servedfor two years. He began his illustrious career with Cain & Bultman, a Jacksonville distributor, in 1959 as a salesman and soon became an advertising and marketing executive.
The company sold Zenith televisions and radios to local retailers, and, in 1979 he was named president, succeeding his father, Norwood Sandifer.
By 1983, the company was one of the country’s largest distributors of kitchen appliances, air-conditioning units, electronics and floor coverings. But as the business landscape changed, in the late 1990s Cain & Bultman changed its focus and specialized in distributing hard surface floor coverings. In 1995, Sandifer was promoted to CEO and chairman and his brother, Michael, became president. The company’s progress and growth in the past dozen years are a result of both his vision and leadership.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie; sons Thomas N. Jr. and his wife Julie, and Kirk M. and his wife Lisa; daughters Elizabeth Cantey Sandifer, and Shannon Sandifer Smith and her husband Adam; six grandchildren, and a brother, Michael A. Sandifer and his wife Elaine.
A lifelong resident of Jacksonville, Sandifer graduated from Landon High School and attended the University of Florida. In 1957, he joined the Marine Corps, where he servedfor two years. He began his illustrious career with Cain & Bultman, a Jacksonville distributor, in 1959 as a salesman and soon became an advertising and marketing executive.
The company sold Zenith televisions and radios to local retailers, and, in 1979 he was named president, succeeding his father, Norwood Sandifer.
By 1983, the company was one of the country’s largest distributors of kitchen appliances, air-conditioning units, electronics and floor coverings. But as the business landscape changed, in the late 1990s Cain & Bultman changed its focus and specialized in distributing hard surface floor coverings. In 1995, Sandifer was promoted to CEO and chairman and his brother, Michael, became president. The company’s progress and growth in the past dozen years are a result of both his vision and leadership.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie; sons Thomas N. Jr. and his wife Julie, and Kirk M. and his wife Lisa; daughters Elizabeth Cantey Sandifer, and Shannon Sandifer Smith and her husband Adam; six grandchildren, and a brother, Michael A. Sandifer and his wife Elaine.
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