Justin Whitlock Dart
| Justin Whitlock Dart, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 17, 1907 Evanston, Illinois |
| Died | January 26, 1984 (aged 76) |
| Cause of death | Congestive heart failure |
| Alma mater | Northwestern University |
| Occupation | President (Dart Industries) Director of Store Operations (Walgreens) |
| Employer | Dart Industries (1941-80) Walgreens (1930-40) |
| Known for | Drug store magnate |
| Spouse(s) |
Jane O'Brien Dart (m. 1940-84) Ruth Walgreen Dart Stephan (m. 1929-39) |
| Children |
Justin Whitlock Dart, Jr. Peter Whitlock Dart Guy Michael Dart Jane Dart Campbell Stephen Dart |
| Parent(s) | Guy Justin Dart (father) Laura Case Whitlock Dart (mother) |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Justin Whitlock Dart, Sr. (August 17, 1907 – January 26, 1984) was an American businessman, considered the "boy wonder" of the drug store industry. In college Dart had played football for Northwestern University.
He was born on August 17, 1907. After marrying Ruth Walgreen, Dart became an executive with his father-in-law's (Charles Walgreen) company, the Walgreens Drugstore chain. At Walgreens, he introduced the concept of placing the pharmacy counter at the back of the drug store, which not only provided privacy for medical concerns, but forced patrons to walk past many items for possible purchase.
Dart divorced his first wife, Ruth Walgreen, and left the Walgreen company shortly after. In 1943, Dart took control of the Boston-based United Drug Company. The chain operated under the Ligget, Owl, Sonta, and Rexall brands. Soon, Dart rebranded the stores under the Rexall name. After 35 years, Dart sold his stake in Rexall in 1978. Not long afterwards, he said "I would like my retirement and death to be simultaneous." During these years, Dart had acquired stakes in Avon, West Bend Housewares, Duracell, Ralph Wilson Plastics, Archer Glass and Hobart, which were collectively known as Dart Industries.
In 1980, Dart sold his company to Kraft Industries. Although Dart Industries never owned Avon, it was the former parent company to Tupperware Home Parties. Dart Industries eventually merged with Kraft Foods.
Dart died from congestive heart failure in 1984, aged 76.
Dart received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1987.
Dart and his second wife, former actress Jane Bryan (1918–2009), were married on New Year's Eve in 1939, and remained married until his death in 1984. The couple had three children. Dart and Bryan were staunch Republicans and helped convince their close personal friend, former California Governor Ronald Reagan, to run for the presidency of the United States in 1980.
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