William H. Danforth II, the thirteenth chancellor of Washington University, died Wednesday, Sept. 16 at his home in Ladue at the age of 94.

The grandson of Ralston Purina Company founder William H. Danforth I, Danforth was born in St. Louis, Mo. in 1926. After graduating from Princeton University in 1947, Danforth attended Harvard Medical School and served as a Navy physician during the Korean War. He then joined the Washington University School of Medicine faculty as a cardiologist.

Danforth later became Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and then, in 1971, Chancellor of Washington University, succeeding Thomas H. Eliot. During his 24-year tenure, Danforth oversaw a significant increase in the University’s endowment, campus construction and scholarship funding. He also established 70 additional faculty chairs. Danforth retired in 1995 and was succeeded by Mark S. Wrighton.

Often referred to as “Chan Dan,” Danforth was married to Elizabeth “Ibby” Gray Danforth, who died in 2005. The then-named Hilltop Campus was renamed to the Danforth Campus in 2006 in honor of Danforth and his family.

Matt Mitgang | Student Life

Chancellor Emeritus William H. Danforth speaks in Graham Chapel at the dedication of the Danforth University Center.

“I think it’s an extremely kind thing for people to do,” Danforth said to Student Life in a February 2006 interview. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some exceptional people over the years. And I think I got a lot of credit for things other people did. I feel extremely lucky to have been a part of Washington University.”

Current Chancellor Andrew Martin said that Danforth leaves behind a legacy of leadership and service that has had a lasting impact on the University community.

“Most notably, we will remember Bill for taking the University from what was once known as a commuter campus to the world-renowned institution it is today, including raising the prominence of the School of Medicine—Bill’s academic ‘home’ and the place where his leadership and service at Washington University began,” Martin wrote in a statement to Student Life. “…Indeed, anyone who has ever been in the presence of Bill Danforth knows how special he was and how much he cared for this place and the people who have resided, studied and worked here.”

Student Life will continue to update this story with more details as they become available.