The only executive to have headed two of Hawai'i's "Big Five" companies has died.

Lawrence Pricher, who served as president of C. Brewer and Co. and chief executive officer of Alexander & Baldwin Inc. during the 1970s, died Monday at his home in Medford, Ore. after battling cancer.

He was 89.

"Many of his friends remember him for his gentle ways," said his wife, Audrey Pricher.

"He was a caring person."

During Hawai'i's plantation era, the so-called Big Five — Alexander & Baldwin, C. Brewer, Amfac Inc., Theo. H. Davies & Co. and Castle & Cooke Inc. — dominated the state's economic landscape.

While the companies often shared interlocking boards, no executive had served as the head of two companies until Pricher became Alexander & Baldwin's CEO in 1973.

Under his watch, Alexander & Baldwin posted record earnings in two years and diversified its interests by purchasing an Idaho food company and by acquiring minority stakes in a Hong Kong furniture company and a local petroleum refiner and gasoline retailer, Pacific Resources Inc.

He left the company in 1978.

"Larry Pricher is remembered for his leadership and significant contributions to Alexander & Baldwin," said Allen Doane, the company's chairman and CEO.

"During his tenure as chairman and CEO, A&B achieved much, with record years in 1974 and 1975. He was well-liked by our employees, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family."

A native of New York, Pricher came to Hawai'i in 1965 when he was hired by C. Brewer as a vice president.

He was named president of the company in 1970 but left C. Brewer two years later after the agriculture and real estate concern was acquired by Philadelphia-based IU International Corp.

During the early 1980s, Pricher headed Denver-based Consolidated Gas & Oil Inc.'s efforts to develop the Princeville resort on Kaua'i. In 1986, he helped the company fend off a hostile takeover attempt by a California investor.

Beyond his corporate interests, Pricher served on the boards of the Bishop Museum, Hawaii Loa College (which was later merged into Hawai'i Pacific University), 'Iolani School and the Aloha United Way.

Born in Brooklyn, Pricher graduated from St. Paul's Preparatory Academy before attending Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Marines and was stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, Calif., and Okinawa, Japan.

Besides his wife, Audrey, Pricher is survived his daughter, Virginia Kreindl of Bellingham, Wash., daughter-in-law, Meleanna Meyer of Honolulu, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the John L. Pricher Scholarship Fund at Hawaii Preparatory Academy at P.O. Box 428, Kamuela, HI 96743.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.