Born in St. Louis and raised in Joplin, Missouri, Jerry Heller received his B.S. degree in pharmacy from The University of Oklahoma in 1959, and joined Katz Drug Company. In 1960, he joined the May's firm and started a division to lease drug departments in large discount stores. He eventually purchased the firm with his father and, in 1971, became president. At that time, May's operated four units. Today, Jerry operates the largest family owned pharmacy chain in Oklahoma, consisting of 15 May's Drug Stores and 24 Drug Warehouse stores, plus a distribution facility in Tulsa.

Jerry serves nationally on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and has served twice as Chairman of that organization. The NACDS represents approximately 150 chain pharmacy corporations, which operate over 24,000 retail pharmacies. He is a past Chairman of Affiliated Drug Stores, now called Chain Drug Merchandising Association, a pharmacy buying group. He is a member of the Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association and active in state political affairs regarding health care. He is also a Director of F&M Bank and Trust Company in Tulsa, serves as a Director and former Chairman of the American Red Cross Southwest Region Blood Services, as well as Chairman of The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy National Advisory Board. He also serves on the Foundation Board of Temple Israel in Tulsa and on the Board of Friends of the Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Jerry has been the recipient of many honors, including, in 1989, the Ralph D. Bienfang Outstanding Practitioner Award awarded by The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy for an outstanding career of professional accomplishment, including service, sensitivity to human needs, and inspirational leadership. In November 1990, The University of Oklahoma honored him with the "Regents Alumni Award", recognizing his many contributions to the University. In 1991, he was honored as the Chain Drug Review "Retailer of the Year" with a dinner and award presentation in New York. In December 1991, he received the prestigious "Torch of Learning" award from the American Friends of Hebrew University for his outstanding service to the Chain Drug Industry.

The Heller Chair in Pharmaceutical Chemistry has been established at Hebrew University in Israel by the Chain Drug Industry in his honor. In 1997, he was honored with a dinner in New York given by UJA-New York for his charitable involvement within the Chain Drug Industry. In January 2000, Chain Drug Review presented him with the Ron L. Ziegler Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to the Chain Drug Industry.

Jerry and his wife, Sherry, have three children: Gregg, a buyer for May's; Tracey, a sales representative with G.D. Searle Division of Monsanto; and Devin, who is employed by May's working in real estate and computer areas. He also has two grandchildren.