Warren M. Shapleigh, a member of the Board of Trustees since 1966 and former president of Ralston Purina, died Nov. 1, 2009, at McKnight Place Extended Care in Ladue, Mo. He was 89.
Shapleigh was elected to the board in 1966 and served for 14 years before becoming emeritus in 1980. While on the board, Shapleigh was a member of nine committees, including development, real estate, honorary degree and undergraduate experience.
“Warren Shapleigh was a remarkable citizen of St. Louis and an important member of the Washington University family,” Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said. “Our University is stronger today because of his leadership and thoughtful contributions. He will be deeply missed.”
Except for a six-week interval from 1945-46, there has been a member of the Shapleigh family on Washington University’s Board of Trustees since 1895. Shapleigh’s grandfather — Alfred L. Shapleigh — and father — A. Wessel Shapleigh — served on the board from 1895-1945 and 1946-1972, respectively.
Warren Shapleigh’s involvement at the University extended beyond the board. In 1987, he joined the School of Architecture’s National Council and served as its chair from 1988-1998. Shapleigh received the Dean’s Medal from the School of Architecture in 1996.
Shapleigh also helped spearhead the fund-raising initiative for what would become the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, serving in early 2000 as a leadership chair for the School of Architecture in the Campaign for Washington University.
Shapleigh was born in St. Louis and attended St. Louis Country Day School. He earned a bachelor of arts in economics from Yale University in 1938 and served in the Navy from 1942-46. After World War II, he joined his family’s business, Shapleigh Hardware, where he became vice president of buying and merchandising.
He joined Ralston Purina in 1961 as manager of diversified planning and quickly ascended within the company, becoming vice president of the consumer products division, executive vice president of Ralston Purina and president of the Consumer Products Group.
He was named director of Ralston Purina in 1966 and served as president from 1972-78.
Shapleigh was a member of the board of directors of the Missouri Botanical Garden for nearly 60 years and also served on the boards of St. Luke’s Hospital and the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. He was president of the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation from 1989-2006.
Shapleigh is survived by his wife, Jane Shapleigh; daughters Jane Shapleigh Mackey of Ladue and Christine Shapleigh Schmid, M.D., of Boston; son-in-law, Paul A. Schmid III of Boston; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was Nov. 5 at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ladue.
Shapleigh was a member of the board of directors of the Missouri Botanical Garden for nearly 60 years and also served on the boards of St. Luke’s Hospital and the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. He was president of the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation from 1989-2006.
Shapleigh is survived by his wife, Jane Shapleigh; daughters Jane Shapleigh Mackey of Ladue and Christine Shapleigh Schmid, M.D., of Boston; son-in-law, Paul A. Schmid III of Boston; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was Nov. 5 at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ladue.