Louis Ward


Louis Larrick Ward was an American businessman who successfully turned the Russell Stover Candies company into an international brand after purchasing the company in 1960.

Early life and education

Ward was born November 18, 1919, in Lenora, Kansas, to Carter William and Fern Alpha Ward. He initially attended the University of Kansas from 1937 to 1938 before ultimately transferring and in 1941 earning a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Stanford University.

Career

Since 1946, Ward has been with multiple employers in the chemical industry such as Drexel, Harriman & Company and Spencer Chemical Company. In 1960, he acquired Russell Stover Candies and built into an internationally known brand. He also served as a director to the First National Bank in Kansas City, Missouri.

Personal life

On December 15, 1955, Ward married Adelaide Selby Cobb, later chair of the Ward Family Foundation. They had three children:
Louis L. Ward died on February 10, 1996, aged 76, in Kansas City, Missouri.