Kain, John George IV

Longtime Chattanooga Businessman

  • Monday, November 21, 2005

John George Kain IV, 83, died Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005, at Memorial Hospital due to complications from a remarkable battle with multiple myeloma, with his son by his side.

A Chattanooga native, he was the loving father of three and a supportive husband for 50 years. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II.

A businessman in Chattanooga for many years, he began his employment with Star Box and Printing Company in 1937 working during the summers. He became general manager in 1943. He served as president and treasurer of Star Box from 1953 to 1970.

From 1950 through 1970, he owned several other business including Security Carton Company of Mobile, AL; Shelby Paper Box Company in Memphis; Kain Packaging Company in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the John G. Kain Company.

At one time, he also owned San-An Peanut Butter Company and Lone Star Cone Company, both of San Antonio, TX. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he served in other family-owned businesses as secretary-treasurer of Signal Knitting Mills, Ilena Mills, Kain-Murphey Corporation, Dri-Set Inc. of Graysville, TN, and Tazewell Industries Inc. of Tazewell, TN.

From 1958 to 1959, he was appointed assistant director of the Container and Packaging Division, Business and Defense Services Administration for the Department of Commerce.

He was a member of the Young Presidents Organization for 15 years, in which he served as regional treasurer for seven years and international treasurer for one year. He later became a member of the World Business Council.

He was elected to the Board of Directors of Pioneer Bank in early 1950, becoming one of the youngest directors of that Chattanooga institution. He had a significant role in starting the Chattanooga Chapter of Junior Achievement, serving as its first chairman of the board, from 1960 to 1962. He also served on the National Board of Junior Achievement.

He attended St. Petersberg Junior College, the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Virginia.

Since 1955, he was owner-operator of Jay Kay Ranch in Pearsall, TX. Upon retirement in the late 1970s, he returned to his beloved ranch. While in Texas, he became active in Texas politics and many civic organizations.

He served as president of the Pearsall Rotary Club and was instrumental in transforming the chapter into a progressive local organization without losing its traditions.

He later began breeding and racing thoroughbred horses and became one of the leaders in the Texas thoroughbred industry.

In recent years, he lived in Pearsall and in St. Petersburg, FL, his childhood winter home. He was the longest standing member of the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, the Mountain City Club and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, having been a member of each for over 62 years.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine Douglass Anderson Kain; son, John G. Kain V; daughter, Maria (Dennis) Kain Matthews; daughter, Cathy (Kevin) Kain DesLauriers, of Austin, TX; grandchildren, Scott and Catherine DesLauriers, also of Austin; sister, Alice Kain Stout, of Lookout Mountain; and a niece and two nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at Forest Hills Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Wann Funeral Home at 1 p.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in St. Petersberg, Fla., or your favorite charity.

Wann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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