Bruce Dayton

Bruce Bliss Dayton (August 16, 1918 – November 13, 2015) was an American retail executive, businessman, heir to the Dayton's Company fortune, and philanthropist.

Dayton was the last surviving member of the five Dayton brothers – all grandsons of George Dayton, the founder of The Dayton Company – who expanded Dayton's department store founded by their grandfather in downtown Minneapolis from a single location into the national Target Corporation, one of the largest retail store chains in the United States. Dayton served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Dayton Hudson Corporation, the company now known as the Target Corporation, before becoming the chairman of Dayton Hudson from 1970 to 1977.

He also founded the B. Dalton Bookseller in 1966.

Life and career Dayton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 16, 1918, as the second oldest of five brothers. He died at his home in Orono, Minnesota, on November 13, 2015, at the age of 97.