REX Hall of Honors: in recognition of lifetimes of dedication and achievement within the industry, Drug Store News initiates the first Hall of Honors awards

Drug Store News, Oct 9, 1995

In recognition of lifetimes of dedication and achievement within the industry, Drug Store News initiates the first Hall of Honors awards.

Under the leadership of Charles R. Walgreen Jr., the chain that bears his family name built its reputation as America's pharmacy leader. Today, Walgreens, now with some 2,086 stores in 31 states and Puerto Rico, fills nearly 8 percent of the country's retail prescriptions.

In 1925 Mr. Walgreen officially joined the chain as a drug apprentice. From 1939 to 1964 he served Walgreen as its president, and as its chairman from 1963 to 1971.

During the 1950s and 1960s Mr. Walgreen led the conversion of the company's drug stores to self-service. "We were the leader," he says. "The first major chain to convert. It meant rebuilding our entire company."

At age 89, Mr. Walgreen continues his association as a consultant to the company.

Founder and chairman of American Greetings and chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, Irving I. Stone helped develop a small family business into the world's largest publicly owned manufacturer of greeting cards and related social expression products. He has been involved in the company some 80 years, since the company's entire inventory was stored in the family living room.

Among his accomplishments during his distinguished career: launching American Greetings Creative Department to design and print the company's own line of cards. He was the department's editor, writer, art director and manager.

Today, still, with more than 400 artists and writers who produce more than 20,000 designs a year, Irving Stone is still the final word on each verse.