THE BIG BOARD AND THE BIG FIRE

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1962, was the coldest day in many years. In New York, Company officials celebrated the listing of Ralston Purina stock on the New York Stock Exchange. In St. Louis, the thermometer dropped to 7 below zero, and the worst disaster in Purina's history took place. At 3:23 p.m., a violent dust explosion followed by a fire demolished the St. Louis Chow manufacturing plant elevator. Two workers were killed, and 35 were hospitalized with severe injuries. One fireman suffered a heart attack while battling the flames.

A nearby barber heard the deafening blast and looked out his window to see what looked like a magician's trick—a building with a top and bottom, but no middle. "Then the top fell to the bottom, and there was dust all around," he recalls.

So forceful was the explosion that two trucks at a loading dock were flipped on their sides, elevator doors were blown off and windows in otherwise unscathed buildings were shattered. More than 1,000 people were evacuated from the General Office in orderly fashion, but once outside, many sobbed from shock. Three days lapsed before the flames were completely quelled.

Although the main office building was without power, it was not seriously damaged. Said Donald Danforth at the time, "There was eight inches of water in the basement. Yet I found groups busily at work in the office, huddled in overcoats and using flashlights and lanterns, but nonetheless sorting orders and transferring them to other plants so that our customers would not lack proper Purina service. I personally had to send a number home who had been working steadily for over 30 hours, and who were practically out on their feet." As always, it boils down to the people.

Ralston Purina has long recognized the individual's contribution as the important component of corporate success. Despite its size and sophistication, the Company still boasts of "Purina Spirit"—that mixture of enthusiasm and dedication responsible for its growth.