A. D. Clark, 86; Founded Sav-On Drug Store Chain
Alton Driggs Clark, a founder of both the Clark and Sav-On drug store chains, died Thursday at his home in Encino. He was 86.
Clark began in retailing with a food market in the O. P. Skaggs chain in Salt Lake City. He became a partner of C. J. Call, who brought the Skaggs interests to California in 1945 and asked Clark to join him.
The two began Sav-On, believed the first self-service drug store in the state and possibly the nation, said Dick Brombach, one of Clark’s two sons-in-law.
Clark stayed with Sav-On until 1959 when he sold his interests and formed what has now become the 19-store Clark drug chain in Southern California.
Clark’s other survivors include daughters Betty Jean Brombach, Geraldine Wood, son-in-law Ed Wood, five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. His wife, Ruby, died last year.
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