The first president of Target Department Stores, Douglas J. Dayton died at age 88. Dayton's family was responsible in founding the retailing company sixty one years ago.

Last July 5, Douglas J. Dayton dies at his home in Wayzata, Minnesota. This was after being diagnosed with cancer and battled the diseases as said by his wife, Wendy Dayton.

Dayton took over and reshaped Dayton Co. along with his four brothers. The company was started by their grandfather, George Draper Dayton and was known in downtown Minneapolis.

Douglas J. Dayton took over as the first president of the firm in 1961 when the firm established its discount chain named Target. By the end of 1962, three other chains were opened in Minnesota. In 1966, Target expanded outside Minnesota and opened stores around Denver.

In 1967, Dayton Co went public with Target stores as one of its divisions. According to Mark Dayton, Douglas J. Dayton's nephew and governor of Minnesota, his uncle was an extraordinary businessman.