William Wallace Grainger

Notes:

Died:
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.

William — Hally Ward. Hally (daughter of John H Ward and Mary Ritchie) was born 28 Sep 1886; died Nov 1982. [Group Sheet]