I have been referring to this person as
“Grandfather Danforth” since 1982, even though we are not related. His
name is William Henry Danforth and he has become one of my heroes.
One of the first side jobs I had in St.
Louis was “animal wrangler.” That calls for adventurous “helpers” to
catch, and maybe groom, diverse creatures. It can be silly fun and is a
good fit for someone like me, who is terrific with small children and
creatures.
We were at “Ralston Purina,” also referred to as
“Checkerboard Square”
and, since I’m too curious for words, I looked around and saw a display
of little books created by “Grandfather Danforth” intended to encourage
everyone he met. Inside the pages of these books were simple truths
that a lot of us overlook. Some of these writings have been forgotten
over time, but one,
“I Dare You,” is still being printed and sold to people looking for encouragement.
Considering good stuff here in Saint
Louis, “Grandfather Danforth” is top of my list. I began to research to
share with you, and now for me, he has become a Hero and person worth
remembering.
He was born in Mississippi County, Missouri in 1870 and learned to help his dad run the family store in
Charleston,
Missouri. He talked his parents into sending him off to school, where
he met an educator, who noticed promise in the boy, but also constant
health issues. The teacher gave William a “Dare” to become the
healthiest Boy in the school, which set this young son of a business
owner on a path to Great Personal Achievement. His own
family seems to be carrying the Danforth Tradition in splendid manner.
In 1892 he graduated from Washington
University and by 1894 he’d found a great idea. Realizing that animals
need to eat he became a business pioneer in the formula feed business.
There was new science to reduce the risk of disorders in livestock
through good nutrition. Disorders like “
bloat”
could be reduced, health could be improved, making farming more
productive. Danforth worked in the plant and traveled to area farms to
sell the feed. As the product became successful, Mr. Danforth began to
travel in larger circles around the region. During those early years he
continued to return home and mix feed in the plant.
Mr. Danforth said he enjoyed new things,
but when he found something Good, he stuck with it. It is true he
became quite an innovator and adventurer, BUT, he met and married Adda
Bush in 1894 and they enjoyed a happy and meaningful life of many years
together.
The original company was incorporated as
Robinson-Danforth Commission Company. It took only two years for
Danforth to buy out his partners. Two days later a terrible tornado
flattened the facility. This proved to be one of those good news, bad
news situations. Somehow, it seems Mr. Danforth could find the path to
success, and share every bit of good he found with as many people as
possible. Has it ever seemed that some people find Good hidden inside
of every “difficult” situation?
The Company, grew into one of the top
100 corporations in America and Danforth became its first president. In
1898 he introduced a cracked-wheat cereal into the company and named
after a famous health celebrity of the 1890’s called “Dr. Ralston.” The
name of the company was changed to “Ralston-Purina” and, by 1902 the
checkerboard logo was added.
So many of our young people were sent to
Europe during the First World War, Mr. Danforth was offered an
opportunity to pull together Soldier Social groups through the YMCA.
The need was great and when it seemed overwhelming, Mr. Danforth coached
the young soldiers to create their own groups. Even if it was a
gathering for book discussions, he would encourage young people to get
together and create positive moments to share. He wrote memos, letters
and stories to be read to his “Purina Family” every Monday, in order to
keep them unified at home, while he personally did what he could to
bring hope and comfort to the
soldiers abroad.
Mr. Danforth believed in the Youth of America. In 1924, with many of his friends, he helped to establish the
American Youth Foundation.
In 1927 he and his wife created the “
Danforth Foundation,”
one of the largest private foundations in the region which enabled many
young people, male and female to get a quality education.
From 1932 through the end of his life, Mr. Danforth served as “Chairman of Ralston
Purina Co.”
It’s hard to imagine one person could accomplish as much as William H. Danforth. He loved Christmas and started a
Christmas Carol Society,
he was active in his church, there are stories that he boosted Sunday
School Attendance by giving a live alligator to any young person who
brought a friend to church. (Really, can you imagine?)
He traveled much of the known world, and continued to write letters to his “Purina Family."
Many of these letters were saved and
bound. Our library has many of them in the rare book collection, and a
few still available to be checked out, if your request them, you’ll see
they are a bit fragile but, really worth reading.
He invested in
chapels to stand in the middle of University campuses, so students would have beautiful places to reflect and center.
Adda, his beautiful bride, after so many
adventures, had a stroke and remained at home. William H. Danforth
invited company over to make sure Adda was included in as much as
possible. On Christmas Eve, 1955 he left us, not long afterwards Adda
joined him. Their ashes are in one of their chapels, in a youth camp
they visited together every summer.
I believe Mr. Danforth even made a way
for me to have a future because, when he was supporting the Youth of
America, he gave generously to
4-H
programs. I may never have met him, but a special program was created
within the 4-H movement that enabled me to train puppies in basic
obedience for
Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California.
I think this
man, one of my heroes, lifted the face of our nation for several generations.
Perhaps, if you have a pet, the New Version of Purina, owned by Nestle, is looking after your family, even now.
” I Dare You! Stand Tall, Think Tall, Smile Tall, Live Tall”
– William H. Danforth