Bruce Dayton

Bruce Dayton
Born(1918-08-16)August 16, 1918
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedNovember 13, 2015(2015-11-13) (aged 97)
Orono, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationYale University
Known forEstablishing the Dayton-Hudson Corporation, CEO of Dayton's, Founder of B. Dalton Bookseller
Political partyRepublican
ChildrenMark Dayton
RelativesGeorge Draper Dayton (Grandfather) and Douglas Dayton (Brother)

Bruce Bliss Dayton (August 16, 1918 – November 13, 2015) was an American retail executive, businessman, heir to the Dayton's Company fortune, and philanthropist.

Dayton was the last surviving member of the five Dayton brothers – all grandsons of George Dayton, the founder of The Dayton Company – who expanded Dayton's department store founded by their grandfather in downtown Minneapolis from a single location into the national Target Corporation, one of the largest retail store chains in the United States.[1] Dayton served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Dayton Hudson Corporation, the company now known as the Target Corporation, before becoming the chairman of Dayton Hudson from 1970 to 1977.[2][3]

He also founded the B. Dalton Bookseller in 1966.[2] He named the bookstore chain after himself, replacing the Y in his surname with an L.[2] At its height, B. Dalton was the largest retailer of hardcover books in the U.S., with 798 locations.[2] Dayton was the father of Governor and U.S. Senator from Minnesota, Mark Dayton.[1] Dayton was a Republican donor.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Bruce Dayton, scion of Minnesota retail family that founded Target, dies at 97". Los Angeles Times. October 13, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Miller, Stephen (October 13, 2015). "Bruce Dayton, CEO of Retailer That Became Target, Dies at 97". Bloomberg News. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  3. ^ Roberts, Sam (October 13, 2015). "Bruce B. Dayton, Minnesota Retailer and Arts Patron, Dies at 97". The New York Times. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  4. ^ "Gov. Dayton's dad gives to Republican Parry for Congress". MPR News. Retrieved November 25, 2021.