Necrology

Robert Pace Flack '59

Mar. 13, 1938-Oct. 6, 2018

Robert Pace Flack ’59, a restaurant and food service executive of Oklahoma City, Okla., was born on March 13, 1938, in Utica, N.Y., the son of the former Ethel Newell and Samuel William Flack, a physician. He graduated from Riverdale Country School in New York City.

Flack came to Hamilton in 1956 and joined the Emerson Literary Society. He transferred to Utica College the following year and graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 1961.

According to a published obituary, his passion for business led him to enter the corporate restaurant and food service profession where he became a top industry executive. Flack served as COO of Pizza Inn Restaurants and later president/CEO of El Chico Mexican Restaurants. He moved from Dallas to Oklahoma City when he became president/CEO of Sonic Industries, from which he retired in 1995.

Now long after his retirement, he became a consultant to several global food industry organizations, including Olympus Capital of Asia-Hong Kong, FPO Quattro of Mumbai, India, and Coolgreens Bistros of Oklahoma City. He later moved into the banking industry, served as chairman/CEO of Lincoln National Bank. The obituary noted that he had mentored many professionals over the years, “from small family business owners to executives of Fortune 500 companies.”

Flack served on the boards of Pinnacle Business Solutions, the National Restaurant Association, and the International Franchise Association. He was also an advisory director to the Hotel-Restaurant Management School of Oklahoma State University.

Robert P. Flack died on Oct. 6, 2018. He was 80 years old and is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Ailda Markus, a daughter, and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son.

Necrology Home