Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ALCORN WILLIAM J
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
J C PENNEY CO INC [JCP]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
SVP, Controller / Chief Procurement Officer
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC., 6501 LEGACY DRIVE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/20/2005
(Street)

PLANO, TX 75024
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value               5,908 D  
Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value               10,171.732 I By Trustee of 401(k) (1)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Mirror Savings Plan (2)               (2)   (2) Common Stock 290.8618   290.8618 D  
Options/ Right to Buy/ Grant $ 16 05/20/2005   S     1,875 02/28/2002 02/27/2010 Common Stock 1,875 $ 50.9856 97,500 D  
Options/ Right to Buy/ Grant $ 19.54 05/20/2005   S     14,000 02/24/2004 02/23/2013 Common Stock 14,000 $ 50.9856 83,500 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
ALCORN WILLIAM J
C/O J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.
6501 LEGACY DRIVE
PLANO, TX 75024
      SVP, Controller Chief Procurement Officer

Signatures

 Ralph H. Richardson***   05/24/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Equivalent shares based on units of JCPenney stock held by trustee of 401(k) plan, and assigned to my account, as of April 30, 2005, pursuant to plan. Differences in totals reported since last Form 4 or Form 5 represent units acquired by trustee since then in the ordinary course of plan's administration and reflects adjustments made to all equivalent shares in plan, divided among accounts of all participants in plan, all exempt under Rule 16b-3.
(2) Equivalent shares based on units credited under the Company's Mirror Savings Plan I, II, III.
 
Remarks:
***By continuing POA as filed with the S.E.C.

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