|
William B. Graham, 90, is chairman emeritus and an honorary member of the board of directors of Baxter International Inc.
He joined Baxter in 1945 as vice president and manager. In 1953, he became chief executive officer, retaining that post until 1980. He was chairman from 1971 until 1985 and, thereafter, senior chairman until 1996. During Mr. Graham's tenure as CEO, Baxter established one of the most outstanding growth records in American industry.
Mr. Graham is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where he finished first in his class in chemistry and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. After two years of honor fellowship work in chemistry, he entered law school and received a juris doctor degree cum laude from the same institution. He practiced patent law until joining Baxter.
Mr. Graham plays an active role in business, civic and philanthropic affairs. He is
co-chairman emeritus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He is a director of the Chicago Horticultural Society, Evanston Hospital, Big Shoulders, and a trustee of the Orchestral Association and of the University of Chicago. He has served as a director of the First Chicago Corporation, The First National Bank of Chicago, Deere & Company, Bell & Howell, Borg Warner, Culligan and Northwest Industries. He is past president of the Community Fund of Chicago and the Illinois Manufacturers Association.
Mr. Graham has been prominent in drug-industry activities, having served as president of the American Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. He was a chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA) when pricing and marketing practices in the ethical drug industry were under investigation during the Kefauver Hearings. He also served as a director of the PMA for more than a quarter of a century.
Mr. Graham also was president of The Chicago Club at the time when women first became members, chairman of the Grace Commission for Agriculture and vice chairman, National Park Foundation.
Mr. Graham received the Lewis Foundation VIP Award in 1963; the Illinois Saint Andrew Society Distinguished Citizen Award and the Decision Maker of the Year Award in 1974; and the Marketer of the Year Award in 1976. In 1978, the Weizmann Institute established the Chair of Pharmacology in his honor. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1974.
In 1981, Mr. Graham was honored with the PMA's Award for Special Distinction and Leadership, as well as recognition by the Health Industry Manufacturers Association (HIMA) for his pioneering work in bringing new lifesaving products to the health care industry. He received the National Kidney Foundation's first Foundation Award, which recognizes lifelong support and personal concern for the progress of medicine; the First Annual Med-Tech Achievement Award; and was named Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Boys' Club. During 1981, Mr. Graham also was a lecturer at the University of Chicago.
In 1982, Mr. Graham received the Distinguished Fellows Award from the International Center for Artificial Organs & Transplantations. The following year, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Lake Forest College, Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from the National College of Education and Saint Xavier College, and was named Business Statesman of the Year by the Harvard Business School Club of Chicago. In 1986, Mr. Graham received the Chicago Civic Award from DePaul University and he was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. In 1988, Mr. Graham received the International Visitors Golden Medallion Award and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Illinois. In 1992, he received the University of Chicago Gold Medal, the Lincoln Academy of Illinois Laureate Award, and the Lyric Opera Carol Fox Award. He received the Good Scout Award in 1993. Mr. Graham received the Chicago Historical Society Award in 1996 and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Barat College in 1997. In 1999, he received the Illinois Arts Legend Award from the Illinois Arts Alliance.
Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is a global health care company that, through its subsidiaries, provides critical therapies for people with life-threatening conditions. Baxter's bioscience, medication delivery and renal products and services are used to treat patients with some of the most challenging medical conditions including cancer, hemophilia, immune deficiencies, infectious diseases, kidney disease and trauma. With 2001 sales of nearly $7.7 billion, and approximately 48,000 team members in 110 countries, Baxter is a global leader in developing innovative medical therapies that improve the quality of life for people around the world. | 