PERSONNEL: Reluctant Distiller

Just before the repeal of prohibition, a friend of Chicago Security Dealer Howard R. Walton’s suggested that he go into the liquor business. Said Walton: “Count me out. I don’t know anything about it.” But by 1934 he thought better of it, joined the sales staff, of Gooderham & Worts, subsidiary of Canada’s Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts Limited (Canadian Club, Ballantine’s, William Penn).

A year after he joined G. & W., Walton became U.S. salesmanager. He did such a good job in that corner of the Hiram Walker empire (which is no longer owned by the Walker family) that he was called to headquarters at Walkerville, Ont. as assistant to the president. Soon he was vice president in charge of production. Last week, following the death of President H. C. Hatch, the man who didn’t want to go into the liquor business became president of the fourth largest distillery in the world.