The Randolph-Macon College community is mourning the loss of a beloved member of the Yellow Jacket family. Macon F. Brock Jr. ’64 died after a lengthy illness on December 9, 2017, at his home in Virginia Beach. He was 75. The Virginian-Pilot newspaper included a tribute to Brock in its December 10 edition, and The New York Times included a tribute in its December 12 edition.

“The sense of loss with Macon’s passing is devastating. His Randolph-Macon family is deeply saddened,” says RMC President Robert R. Lindgren. “He was a constant, warm and vibrant presence on our campus and a friend to everyone he knew. The impact of Macon and Joan’s generosity can be seen and felt everywhere on our campus. The Brocks embodied the true spirit of philanthropy and compassion in every area of their lives. Our hearts and prayers are with Macon’s wife Joan and the entire Brock family.”

Macon Brock Jr. ’64
Brock was often called a Renaissance man. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1964 with a B.A. in Latin, going on to Quantico, Virginia for Marine Corps Officer training. He served in Vietnam and returned to his native Virginia, where he was a special agent with the United States Naval Intelligence at the Norfolk Naval Station before becoming a successful entrepreneur. He co-founded K and K Toys and Dollar Tree, Inc.

Brock served on the RMC Board of Trustees from 1992-2009 and was chair of the Board from 1999-2009. Earlier, he had served on the college’s Board of Associates. In addition, from 2008 until its successful completion in 2015, he served as chairman of RMC’s capital campaign, Building Extraordinary, a $125 million initiative, which supported capital projects, the college’s endowment and academic programs.

“Macon gave the most valuable gift of all—his time,” says Lindgren. “Macon and Joan opened their home many times over the years, welcoming Yellow Jackets to alumni events, and Macon was a true ambassador for RMC, engaging alumni and students in the life of the college he loved so much.”

The Brocks were also members of the Presidents Society and Heritage Society, and Macon was a steadfast recruiter for his alma mater, often calling prospective students and telling them about the merits of a Randolph-Macon education. The Brocks each received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree during RMC’s 2009 Commencement ceremony.

Alan B. Rashkind ’69, chair of the RMC Board of Trustees and a longtime friend of Brock, says, “Macon was the type of person who would light up any room, and you always felt better about the world, and yourself, when he was around. But more than that, Macon was a truly exemplary leader: a man with a vision, and a commitment to rally people and resources in order to make that vision a reality. He saw things as they could and should be, and then set out to make that happen. His leadership at our college was transformational, and his exclusively positive influence here will last for many generations.”

Loyalty and Dedication
Provost William T. Franz says, “Macon Brock’s incredible career in business stands as proof positive of the value of a Randolph-Macon liberal arts education. His loyalty and dedication to his alma mater, both in time and in tangible gifts, have assured that that education will be available for generations to come.”

“The Quintessential Yellow Jacket”
Throughout the years, the Brocks supported RMC in countless ways.

“Macon was the quintessential Yellow Jacket,” says Lindgren. “When he saw a need on campus—for example, when he realized that a new student center was much needed—he stepped in and asked, ‘How can I help? What can Joan and I do?’ This wasn’t unusual for Macon. He was a natural leader, setting an example by doing, and others followed. Look around and you’ll see the imprint of Macon and Joan’s influence everywhere—in the faces of our students, in the footprints of our beautiful buildings, in the programs and courses that make
RMC unique. But above all, Macon always said that the strength of this great place is not the bricks or mortar, but rather its people, and he was right. How fortunate we were to have known and been influenced by this wonderful person.”

The Brock Sports and Recreation Center, the Brock Residence Hall in Thomas Branch, and renovations to Fox and Haley Halls were all made possible with the help of the Brocks. The Brocks also helped facilitate the construction of the Brock Commons student center through a lead gift. In addition, the Brocks endowed the Joan and Macon Brock Professorship in Psychology, currently held by Professor Alva T. Hughes ’81.

In 2012, the Brocks established the Macon and Joan Brock Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to deserving students attending RMC from the Hampton Roads area in Virginia. Near the conclusion of the Campaign, the Brocks made a generous lead gift challenge toward the construction of RMC’s new science building, a 27,000-square-foot, three-story building, which also received significant support from other donors.

Outstanding Community Leadership
Brock received many awards for his outstanding business and community leadership over the years and in 2009 was named the First Citizen of Virginia Beach from the Virginia Beach Jaycees. That same year, the Virginia General Assembly passed a resolution acknowledging Brock’s lifetime contributions to his community and country. In 2014 the Brocks were honored with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Award for Philanthropy, and in 2015 they received the Outstanding Philanthropist award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The award was presented to the couple at AFP’s National Philanthropy Day Honors in New York City.

Macon and Joan each chaired, at the same time, the Board of Trustees of a Virginia residential liberal arts college, RMC and Virginia Wesleyan College, respectively. They also each chaired the Chrysler Museum Board of Directors and have been philanthropic with a number of other universities in Virginia.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center, at Pleasure House Point in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is named in the Brocks’ honor and is one of the most energy efficient and smart buildings in the world.

In 2015 the CIVIC Leadership Institute, which connects executive leaders through service to improve life in Hampton Roads, presented the Brocks with the Darden Award for Individual Leadership.

One of a Kind
In January 2017, Brock returned to campus to sign copies of his book, One Buck at a Time: An Insider’s Account of How Dollar Tree Remade American Retail (Beachnut Publishing, 2017), and met with students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the Ashland community. The book, co-written with Earl Swift, traces Brock’s success as an entrepreneur. During the book signing, Brock wrote a personalized message in each book, caught up with fellow alumni, and talked to visitors, including members of the greater community.

Brock is survived by his wife of 53 years, Joan Perry Brock; children Kathryn Everett and husband Tony Everett of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Christy Miele and husband Donaldson Miele of San Juan Capistrano, California, and Macon Brock III ’95 and wife Kristen Brock of Newport Beach, California; sisters Pat Robertson and Sally White and husband Hal White; and six grandchildren—Lucy and Will Everett, Kate and Jacqueline Miele, and Chloe and Braden Brock.

Funeral Arrangements
A memorial service will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 16 at the First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach on Atlantic Avenue, followed by a reception celebrating his life at Princess Anne Country Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation to support scholarships to Randolph-Macon College (Hampton Roads Community Foundation, 101 West Main St., Norfolk, VA 23510).