Eduardo Castro-Wright: putting a global spin on Wal-Mart

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, April-May, 2005 by Jorge Ferraez

* 1987: Eighth 100 percent stock split in June. Market price: $66.625.

* 1987: Wal-Mart's 25th anniversary: 1,198 stores with sales of $15.9 billion and 200,000 associates.

* 1987: Wal-Mart Satellite Network (largest private satellite communication system in the U.S.) completed, linking all operating units of company and General Office with 2-way voice, data and one-way video communication.

* 1988: David Glass named chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

* 1988: First Supercenter opened in Washington, Mo.

* 1988: Ninety percent of Wal-Mart stores have bar-code scanning capabilities.

* 1988: 16 Wal-Mart distribution centers in operation.

* 1989: Wal-Mart is now in 26 states with the addition of Michigan, West Virginia and Wyoming

1990s

* 1990: McLane Company of Temple, Texas acquired.

* 1990: Wal-Mart enters California, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Utah.

* 1990: Wal-Mart Visitor's Center opens on site of Sam Walton's original Walton's 5-10 store.

* 1990: Ninth 100 percent stock split in June. Market price: $62.50.

* 1991: Western Merchandisers, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas, acquired.

* 1991: Wal-Mart enters Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusettes, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York.

* 1991: "Sam's American Choice" brand products introduced.

* 1991: International market entered for first time with the opening of two units in Mexico City.

* 1992: President George Bush presents Sam Walton with the Medal of Freedom.

* 1992: Sam Walton passes away April 5.

* 1992: S. Robson Walton named chairman of the board April 7.

* 1992: Wal-Mart has entered 45 states with the addition of Idaho, Montana and Oregon.

* 1992: Wal-Mart enters Puerto Rico.

* 1993: Wal-Mart International division formed with Bobby Martin as president.

* 1993: Tenth 100 percent stock split in February. Market price: $63.625.

* 1993: Wal-Mart enters Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Washington.

* 1993: First billion-dollar sales week in December.

* 1993: 99 Pace Warehouse clubs acquired.

* 1994: 122 Woolco stores in Canada acquired.

* 1994: A prototype store designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible opens in Lawrence, Kansas.

* 1994: 3 value dubs open in Hong Kong. Canada has 123 stores end Mexico has 96.

* 1994: Code Adam program implemented, named after Adam Walsh, in all stores.

* 1995: James Lawrence "Bud" Walton, cofounder, passes away.

* 1995: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has 1,995 Wal-Mart stores, 239 Supercenters, 433 SAM'S CLUBS and 276 International stores with sales at $93.6 billion end 675,000 associates.

* 1995: Wal-Mart enters its 50th state--Vermont--and builds three units in Argentina and five in Brazil.

* 1996: Wal-Mart enters China through a joint-venture agreement.

* 1996: Wal-Mart has first $100 billion sales year, with sales totaling $118.1 billion for 1997 per AR '98.

* 1997: Wal-Mart replaces Woolworth on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

* 1997: Wal-Mart introduces OneSource nutrition centers.

* 1997: Wal-Mart acquires 21 Wertkauf units in Germany.

* 1998: Wal-Mart introduces Neighborhood Market concept with three stores in Arkansas.