Jeff Levitetz attended Deerfield High School where he was coached by Hall of Famer Steve Combs. In 1974 Jeff earned a trip to the IHSA State Finals by winning the IHSA Sectional title at 105 pounds. Following his graduation from Deerfield in 1975, Jeff continued his educational and wrestling pursuits at the University of Alabama. Jeff’s collegiate coach was yet another Hall of Famer, Pat Milkovich.

Jeff’s entrepreneurial skills surfaced in a big way while at Alabama when he raised $10,000 for cancer research by doing 10,000 consecutive sit-ups. Additionally, while attending Alabama, Jeff turned a borrowed$300 into a successful business venture – University Marketing.

However, Jeff’s greatest entrepreneurial success came after he left Alabama. In 1982, Jeff founded Purity Wholesale Grocers, Inc. Purity Wholesale Grocers has since become a nationwide network of companies with headquarters in Boca Rotan, Florida. Purity Wholesale Grocers companies specialize in products ranging from frozen foods to health and beauty care, dairy, dry goods and candy. Holding a significant share of an annual five billion dollar industry, Purity Wholesale Grocers is currently one of the largest private companies in Florida as well as one of the largest wholesalers in the country. PWG has been listed in Forbes top 150 privately owned companies; its annual sales have been estimated to range from $750 million to $1.5 billion. In 1986, in recognition of his achievements, Jeff was named as the Chivas Regal Regional and National Entrepreneur of the Year.

Although his corporate executive position places a heavy demand on his time, Jeff still found time to make numerous contributions to the sport of wrestling. He serves as a member of the USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors; he serves as a member of the Governor Associates, an advisory board for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame; he founded the Boca Raton Wrestling Club, a non-profit youth wrestling program m(the clubs slogan is “Wrestling: Training for the Rest of Your Llife”; he is involved with the Gator Wrestling Club which trains and supports talented senior-level wrestlers in all three styles; he developed the JRC Memorial Scholarship Fund which extends financial support to individuals to attend summer camps; he has served as Team Leader of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman Team, as well as the 2003 Senior Greco-Roman Team, the 2003 Pan-American Games Greco-Roman Team, the 2002 Senior Freestyle World Team and the 1999 Senior Freestyle World Team. In recognition of Jeff’s tireless support and service to wrestling the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma named Jeff, in 2002, as its Outstanding American. Additionally, in 2004 he was recognized by USA Wrestling as its Man of the Year.

Florida Chapter Bio:

Jeff Levitetz has been involved with wrestling most of his life. He wrestled for Deerfield High School in Chicago under coach Steve Combs (NWHOF Class of 1985), who served many years as USA Wrestling’s Executive Director. Jeff then continued with the sport at the University of Alabama under coach Pat Milkovich (NWHOF Class of 2000) for two years, earning a Varsity letter. After graduating from UA in 1980, Levitetz worked toward accomplishing his dream of founding Purity Wholesale Grocers, which he did in 1982.     

As his sons grew, Jeff once again hit the mat. He was involved with the Boca Raton Police Athletic League wrestling program from 1995-1997. He then founded the Boca Raton Wrestling Club in 1997. Jeff coached his sons when they wrestled in youth tournaments.

From 1995-2000, Jeff was a board member for USA Wrestling. Following this service, Jeff began his financial support to wrestling when he served as co-chair of the successful “Wrestling for the Next Millennium” capital campaign, which benefitted USA Wrestling, the National Wrestling Coaches Association, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. The campaign was completed in January 2002, with a total of $7.5 million in pledges made to the organizations.  

After the campaign finished, Jeff became the Greco-Roman Team leader for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. He has also served as team leader for other international teams including the 2003 Senior Greco-Roman World Team, the 2003 Pan American Games Greco-Roman Team, the 2002 Senior Freestyle World Team, and the 1999 Senior Freestyle World Team.

In 2002, Jeff was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American, which was followed in 2004 by the honor of USA Wrestling’s “Man of the Year”.  From 2003 to 2006, Jeff served as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was inducted as an Outstanding American into the Illinois Chapter of the NWHOF.