John “Jack” Wendell Renfro, 89, son of Renfro Foods founders George and Arthurine Renfro, died April 6, in the midst of treatment for a recent throat cancer diagnosis.
Renfro grew up in the Fort Worth-based family business. As chief operating officer of Renfro Foods Inc., Renfro handled the manufacturing, maintenance, shipping and receiving aspects of the business and oversaw the company’s strategic plant expansion.
Born and raised in Fort Worth, he leaves behind his three children — Doug, Andrea and Jill — along with eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and his sister, Linda Renfro. He was married to Connie Renfro for 60-plus years before her death in 2023.
Renfro was part of the secret sauce that led to the company’s transformation from packaged spices and pepper sauce to salsa — which has become the key factor in Renfro Foods continued success, said Doug Renfro, his son and now president of the company.
“Dad was a dreamer,” he said. “You’d come up with an opportunity, and he’d say, ‘Go for it.’ He didn’t do spreadsheets. He believed in people.”
That dreamer quality was a key to the company’s long-term success.
“My dad got a call in the ’70s and at the time they were just making relishes, mainly at the time,” Doug Renfro said. “There was a local taco sauce maker that was going out of business, and he went over and checked it out. He called his brother, Bill, and said there may be something in this.”
Jack Renfro on a bale of hay. (Courtesy photo | Renfro Foods)
Bill Renfro, who died in 2021 and was CEO of the company, was the more practical one. But they worked together well, Doug Renfro said.
“God bless them; they saw an opportunity. So they bought out this business and from that decision everything we’ve become has its roots in that,” he said.
The business now produces nearly 30 products available through supermarkets, gourmet food stores and gift shops in all 50 states and internationally, as well as for household-name clients around the country.
“We have all benefited from Jack’s wisdom, humor and kind heart,” said Becky Renfro Borbolla, senior vice president. “Our company would not be the same without his influence and presence. He and my dad Bill, his brother who died in 2021, helped Renfro Foods find its future — and for that we are grateful.”
As a child, Jack Renfro did odd jobs in the family business, then officially joined the company after receiving his bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University.
He was inducted into the Specialty Food Association Hall of Fame in 2016.
Renfro got to see the company be recognized for its success as well. In 2018, the company was chosen as a finalist for the Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Doug Renfro said his father was very involved in family life and noted that one of the first things he did when he took over for his father was to stop working on Saturday.
“He was usually home by 4:30 to spend time with the family,” he said.
Jack Renfro was a lifelong member of the North Fort Worth Baptist Church, where his funeral will be held.
Doug Renfro noted that his father might have seemed quiet and reticent, but he never met a stranger.
“He would meet someone, and they would be his new best friend,” he said.
His father had also been a bull rider and a rodeo clown.
“You might never know it to meet him, but we’ve got the photos to prove it,” Doug Renfro said.
His father also had an affinity for classic cars.
He participated three times in the Great Race, driving cross-country in the road rally in a 1935 Ford. His father recently purchased a 1963 Studebaker that he was planning to restore.
“He said when he got sick that he had so much more he wanted to do,” said Doug Renfro.
His father passed those dreamer qualities on to him, as well as his father’s habit of passing out salsa to everyone he met.
“He was one of the few people you’ll meet that walked the walk and talked the talk,” he said. “That’s who he was.”
The Renfro Foods team will make donations to the following organizations on behalf of Jack Renfro, and welcomes others who knew him to do so in lieu of flowers:
North Fort Worth Historical Society in Fort Worth
Spring Creek Baptist Church in Meridian
A funeral service for Jack will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 17, at North Fort Worth Baptist Church. Visitation will be held by the family the night before from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at Greenwood Funeral Homes in Fort Worth.
Bob Francis is business editor at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.
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