William Wallace Grainger

1895 - 1982  (87 years)

• Name	William Wallace Grainger
  Born	5 Jul 1895	Chicago, Cook, IL
  Gender	Male
  Died	9 Oct 1982	Wilmette, Cook, Illinois
  	Chicago Tribune (IL) - October 13, 1982 PRIVATE services are planned for William W. Grainger , 87, philanthropist and founder of W.W. Grainger Inc. He died Saturday in his home in Wilmette. Mr. Grainger and his sister started the firm in 1927 with $6,000 he borrowed from his wife, Hally. No firm distributed electric motors wholesale, the company's annual report said in 1977, and Mr. Grainger , who was an electrical engineer, motor designer and motor salesman, saw an opportunity. The firm, with headquarters in Skokie, earned profits of $56 million last year on sales of $867 million. THE COMPANY'S first office was at 700 W. Cermak Rd. The firm initially relied on mail orders from its eight-page catalogue, the Motor-Book. Mr. Grainger and his sister Margaret were the only employees. The firm grew rapidly because factories that had operated entire production line with only one electric motor were switching to individual motors for portions of lines. Also, cities were converting to alternating current from direct current, making motors using AC current necessary. THE COMPANY went public in 1967. It has added manufacturing to distribution, and it now distributes almost 10,000 products. Electric motors made up 25 percent of the company's volume in 1981, but it now makes and distributes a variety of products. Although it has always been a national distributor, making it a unique company in its field, its operation no longer is confined to the Chicago area. It spreads over 166 branches in 46 states. It has six manufacturing plants in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. In 1949, Mr. Grainger established a foundation with Grainger stock that has given away $12 million to Chicago-area hospitals. In addition to his wife, Mr. Grainger is survived by a son, David; a daughter, Barbara Tresemer; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
  Person ID	I506	Vancura / Bishop
  Last Modified	15 May 2014

  
  

  Father	Robert Grainger,   b. 10 Dec 1841, Glasgow, Scotland ,   d. 30 Nov 1933, Chicago, Cook, IL  (Age 91 years)
  Mother	Lorinda Louise Gill,   b. 15 Aug 1855, Portland, ME ,   d. 7 Feb 1952, 4815 Wilcox Street, Chicago, IL  (Age 96 years)
  Family ID	F0012	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Hally Ward,   b. 28 Sep 1886,   d. Nov 1982  (Age 96 years)
  Children	1. Barbara A Grainger   2. David W Grainger
  Last Modified	15 May 2014
  Family ID	F168	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 Jul 1895 - Chicago, Cook, IL Died - 9 Oct 1982 - Wilmette, Cook, Illinois  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth