Mack Trucks announced that Mack dealer Jon W. Pritchett, co-founder, president and CEO of Nextran Truck Centers, has been named to the Horatio Alger Association Member Class of 2025. The non-profit honors leaders who have overcome adversity and also supports promising young people pursue their dreams through scholarships.
鈥淛on Pritchett is an exemplary man and very deserving of this award,鈥� said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. 鈥淲e鈥檙e extremely proud to call him a Mack dealer, and one of Mack鈥檚 most prolific dealers in the world. Jon has proven that hard work, resiliency and commitment leads to outstanding success, and more importantly, he has shown the impact you can have by giving back to the community while continuing to help his customers grow and realize their own legacy of success.鈥�
Pritchett and 11 others in the Member Class of 2025 will be formally inducted into the association during the 78th Horatio Alger Award Induction Ceremonies April 3-5, in Washington, D.C.
Born in North Florida, Pritchett was raised by a single mother on a modest income. Barbara (Babs) instilled in him the importance of being resilient and responsible. At the age of 5, his mother enrolled him in first grade so she could support the family. His family moved around Alabama and Florida when his mother remarried.
At the age of 12, Pritchett began working for his father, Marvin, in the summers, handling physically demanding jobs such as driving tractors and operating heavy machinery. He worked alongside men much older than him, gaining hands-on experience in trucking and timber operations. These early experiences shaped his strong work ethic and perseverance. At 17, he graduated high school and enrolled in a two-year college. After earning an associate鈥檚 degree, he studied business at the University of Florida but decided to leave one year before completing his education to pursue his dream of starting his own company.
Pritchett co-founded Nextran Truck Centers in 1993 with two locations in Florida. Today, Nextran has 32 locations nationwide, employs more than 1,400 people and is Mack鈥檚 top-selling dealer worldwide. In addition to leading Nextran, Pritchett is also 聽president of Pritchett Trucking, a regional truckload carrier recognized for its commitment to safety. Pritchett Trucking delivers more than 3,500 truckloads of materials each week.
Jon and his wife, Kelly, are passionate philanthropists, focusing on causes that support education, healthcare, and opportunities for young people. The Pritchetts also support the University of Florida, where Jon currently serves as chairman of the executive committee of the University of Florida Foundation, which raises approximately $500 million annually in support of academic and athletic programs.
鈥淭his award represents the values that have guided me throughout my life: hard work, perseverance and the responsibility to give back,鈥� Pritchett said. 鈥淭hese are the same values that have defined Nextran, Mack Trucks and the incredible people I鈥檝e had the privilege to work with throughout my career. Nextran鈥檚 success is a testament to the dedication of our team, our partners at Mack and all the opportunities that come from determination and resilience.鈥�