Samuel E. Dean Jr.
Samuel E. Dean Jr. Soundex Code D500
Chicago Tribune, March 14, 1975, page C14
Samuel E. Dean Jr. 67, Dean Foods Company executive (past president) and long-time civic and Republican leader, died Wednesday night in his home at 15 Canterberry Lane, Oak Brook, Illinois.
Mr. Dean, who lived on a 40-acre farm in the village, served as chairman of the Oak Brook Plan Commission from 1959 to 1967 and as village president from 1967 to 1973.
He was the son of Samuel E. Dean, Sr., founder of Dean Milk Company, 3600 N. River Road, Franklin Park, Illinois. He took over after his father's death in 1946, and, as chairman of the company, (later Dean Foods Company), he saw it diversify and expand to a $150 million business.
Mr. Dean stepped down as chairman of the food company in 1969 "to give younger executives a chance to exercise their energies," but remained to serve on a new executive committee.
He was active in Republican politics, and, while a student at the University of Illinois in 1930, was instrumental in founding the Illinois Young Republican Organization.
In 1963, Mr. Dean was elected president of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. One of his major efforts was to get fellow businessmen to take an active role in public affairs, a theme he reiterated throughout his year as chamber president.
In 1972, he was named chairman of and Illinois Political Action Committee to support state legislative candidates who understood the business system and business problems.
Mr. Dean is survived by his widow, Dorothy Dean; a son John Allan Dean; a daughter Mrs. Dixie Dean Sparks, nee Miss Dixie Dean; a brother Howard M. Dean, and two sisters, Mrs. Patricia Rockwood, nee: Miss Patricia Dean; and Mrs. Helen Grumhaus, nee: Miss Helen Dean, wife of Harold F. Grumhaus, chairman of the executive committee of the Tribune Company and former publisher of the Chicago Tribune.
The family asked that contributions to the memory of Samuel E. Dean Jr. be made to the Forest Foundation of Du Page County, 881 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, Illinois