TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Jeffrey A. Levitetz, founder and chair of the Florida-based Purity Wholesale Grocers Inc. and an alumnus of The University of Alabama, will present “Welcome to the Real World: How to Prepare for Life After College,” Tuesday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m. in room 226 of Lloyd Hall on the UA campus.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Levitetz, a 1980 alumnus, raised $10,000 for cancer research by performing 10,000 consecutive sit-ups while a student in UA’s New College. Also while at the Capstone, he borrowed $300 and turned it into a successful business venture, University Marketing.
He founded Purity Wholesale Grocers Inc. in 1982. Originally a small, independent company in the Midwest, Purity Wholesale Grocers has become a nationwide network of companies with headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida.
Purity companies specialize in products ranging from frozen food to health and beauty care, dairy, dry goods and candy. Purity holds a significant share of the annual $5 billion industry, is one of the largest private companies in Florida and is one of the largest wholesalers in the country.
Levitetz is also known for his contributions to the sport of wrestling. He is a member of USA Wrestling’s board of directors and is involved with the Gator Wrestling Club, which trains and supports talented senior-level wrestlers.
He was named an Outstanding American by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2004, he was the team leader of the U.S. Olympic wrestling team for Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. The same year, he was named Man of the Year by USA Wresting, the national governing body for amateur wrestling.
Levitetz founded Handshake University, a school for youth development, and the Boca Raton Wrestling Club in Florida, a youth wrestling organization. He wrestled at Deerfield High School in Illinois and competed in the sport at UA.
New College is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Truman Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.
Contact
Stephanie Kirkland, communications specialist, College of Arts and Sciences, 205/348-8539, stephanie.kirkland@ua.edu
Source
Dr. Natalie Adams, director and professor of New College, 205/348-4600, nadams@as. ua.edu