Wal-Mart History Timeline

1962-Company founded with opening of first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Arkansas.
1969-Company incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. on October 31.
1970-Wal-Mart opens first distribution center and home office in Bentonville, Arkansas.
1970-Wal-Mart stock first traded over the counter as publicly-held company.
1971-First 100 percent stock split in May: Market price: $47.
1972-Wal-Mart was approved and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
1972-Second 100 percent stock split in March: Market price: $47.50.
1975-Third 100 percent stock split in August: Market price: $23.
1977-Wal-Mart made first acquisition: 16 Mohr-Value stores in Michigan and Illinois.
1978-Wal-Mart acquires Hutcheson Shoe Company.
1978-Pharmacy, auto service center, and jewelry divisions introduced.
1979-First billion dollar year in sales, total sales: $1,248,000,000.
1980-Fourth 100 percent stock split in November: Market price: $50.
1982-Fifth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price: $49.875.
1983-The first SAM'S club was opened in April in Midwest city, Oklahoma.
1983-Acquired Woolco stores within the United States.
1983-"People Greeter" program introduced at all stores in April.
1983-First one-hour photo lab opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
1983-Sixth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price: $81.625.
1984-Sam Walton did the hula on Wall Street. He promised associates that he would do this if the company had a pre-tax profit of 8 percent in 1983.
1984-David Glass named company president.
1985-Seventh 100 percent stock split in September: Market price: $49.75.
1985- Acquired Grand Central Stores.
1985-Wal-Mart stock traded on the Pacific Stock Exchange.
1987-Eighth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price: $66.625.
1988-David Glass named Chief Executive Officer of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
1988-First Supercenter opened in Washington, Missouri.
1988-Acquired Supersaver units.
1990-Wal-Mart positioned as the nation's #1 retailer.
1990-Acquired Western Merchandisers, Inc. of Amarillo, Texas.
1990-Acquired McLane Company of Temple, Texas.
1990-Ninth 100 percent stock split in June: Market price: $62.50.
1991-Acquired 28 units from The Wholesale Club, Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana.
1991-Entered international market for the first time with the opening of Club Aurrera in Mexico City.
1992-President George Bush presented Sam Walton with the Medal of Freedom on March 17.
1992-First Wal-Mart store opened in Puerto Rico.
1992-Sam Walton passed away on April 5.
1992-S. Robson Walton named Chairman of the Board on April 7.
1993-First billion dollar sales week in December.
1993-Acquired 91 Pace Warehouse clubs.
1993-Tenth 100 percent stock split in February: Market price: $63.625.
1994-Wal-Mart acquired 122 Woolco stores in Canada from Woolworth Canada, Inc.
1994-Implemented Code Adam program, named after Adam Walsh, in all stores.
1995-James Lawrence "Bud" Walton, co-founder, passed away.
1995-Three SAM'S Clubs and three Supercenters open in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1996-Wal-Mart listed on Toronto Stock Exchange.
1996-Wal-Mart entered Korea and China through joint venture agreements.
1997-Wal-Mart became the #1 employer in the United States with 680,000 associates.
1997-Wal-Mart replaces Woolworth on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
1997-Wal-Mart has first $100 billion dollar sales year: total sales: $105,000,000,000.
1997-Wal-Mart introduced OneSource nutrition centers.
1998-Wal-Mart expanded into Germany.
1998-Wal-Mart exceeds $100 million in annual charitable contributions, with donations totaling $102,000,000.
1999-Eleventh 100 percent stock split in March: Market price: $95.

Information from Wal-Mart's Student Packet.