Inspirational Quotes by William H. Danforth (American Businessman)

William H. Danforth (1870–1955) was an American businessman who founded Ralston Purina in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1894.

Born in Charleston, Missouri, Danforth studied mechanical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1894, Danforth opened a feed business called the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company in St. Louis.

In 1898, Danforth launched a cracked-wheat cereal known as Ralston Whole Wheat Cereal (named after the health promoter Albert Wester Edgerly, “Dr. Ralston.”) In 1902, Danforth renamed the company Ralston Purina and introduced the red-and-white checkerboard logo. After Danforth heard World War I troopers referring to their meals as “chow,” Ralston’s animal feeds became “animal chow.”

Danforth introduced pelletized animal feeds in 1921, the Wheat Chex cereal in 1937, and Rice Chex in 1950. He established factories in 32 other American and Canadian cities.

Danforth wrote I Dare You and Adventures in Achievement (1931.) Gordon M. Philpott wrote Daring Venture: The Life Story of William H. Danforth (1960.)

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