BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — Jack Robinson, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Perry Drug Stores Inc., died yesterday. He was 85.

Jack Robinson

Robinson founded Perry Drug in 1957, when he opened his first store in Pontiac, Mich. Perry Drug grew into the largest chain in Michigan and the 16th-largest nationwide, with 225 stores and annual sales of $750 million, before being acquired by Rite Aid Corp. in 1995.

Over Perry’s 38-year history, the company had operations in eight different states, including auto parts stores and health care businesses as well as drug stores.

In early 1996, Robinson organized JAR Group LLC, specializing in retail and residential real estate development and management. He served as the chairman and CEO.

In 1995, Robinson won the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ two highest honors, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Robert B. Begley Award. The latter award was established in 1980 to honor “the individual who exemplifies the qualities of gentleness, humility and service to colleagues” as personified by Begley, a former NACDS chairman.

Ron Ziegler, then NACDS’ president and CEO, said at the time, “In addition to running one of the nation’s leading chain drug store companies, Jack Robinson has always been one of those people who lead our industry by word and deed.”

Robinson also served as president of the Greater Detroit Interfaith Round Table and vice president of the United Foundation of Detroit. He was also a director of the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, Harper Hospital and the Economic Club of Detroit. He was a former vice president of the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education.