Charles Walgreen, Jr., Son Of Pharmacy's Founder, Dies At 100
11-Feb-2007: NORTHFIELD, Ill. -- Charles R. Walgreen Jr., son of the founder of the Deerfield-based drugstore chain and its second president, died early Sunday at the age of 100.
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, Walgreen was found unresponsive in his bed at his Northfield home late Saturday night. He was pronounced dead at 1:45 a.m.
Walgreen, the Deerfield-based drugstore chain's second president and son of its founder, first worked for the family business as a delivery boy in his grade-school days.
In 1939, at age 33, Walgreen Jr. took over the company presidency from his father, Charles R. Walgreen Sr., and steered the company through World War II and the post-war boom. The company expanded to 600 stores and yearly sales grew to $1.16 billion from $72 million during his presidency.
Walgreen Jr. earned three degrees from the University of Michigan -- one from the College of Pharmacy in 1928, an honorary master of science in 1951 and an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 1992.
In 2005, in acknowledgment of $10 million he gave toward construction of the school's new drama center, the University of Michigan named the new facility the Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Drama Center. The Walgreen family have been longtime supporters of the university, through contributions for several professorships, endowed scholarships, facilities and programs in the College of Pharmacy and music school.
Walgreen Jr. retired from Walgreen Co.'s board of directors in 1977, but kept an office at the company's headquarters into his 90s.
Source: NBC5.com
