Retired chairman of the board of Ralston Purina Company, Mr. Danforth was a widely-known business and civic leader. His association with Ralston Purina Company spanned more than 50 years, during which he directed the growth of a small family-owned feed business into one of the largest corporations in the U.S. A life-long St. Louis resident, Mr. Danforth entered the Army during World War I and became a second lieutenant in the infantry. After the war ended he graduated from Princeton with a Bachelor of Arts degree. That fall he joined Ralston Purina, then a relatively small company in the animal feed industry. For the first five years he held jobs in the company's advertising, buying and sales department. In 1925, he became secretary-treasurer of the company and reorganized the cereal department. He became the vice president and treasurer of the company in 1929 and three years later became the president. During his presidency and chairmanship the company's sales rose from $19,000,000 to $850,000,000 annually.

Throughout his career, Mr. Danforth was active in community and educational affairs. In addition to serving as first president of the United Fund of St. Louis, he was chairman of the Community Chest in 1951. After serving as president of the Danforth Foundation for ten years, he was vice president of the board and secretary at the time of his death. He was also a past director of the First National Bank of St. Louis, St. Louis Union Trust Company, General American Life Insurance Company and St. Luke's Hospital. In addition, he was an emeritus member of Civic Progress, Inc., a past member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce and a former president of the boards of trustees of Country Day School and Mary Institute. He received honorary degrees from Drury College and Washington University and was made an honorary member of Alpha Zeta for leadership in agricultural circles. He was cited by the Chamber of Commerce for local, national and international leadership and philanthropy in 1964. In 1967 Mr. Danforth was one of three St. Louisans honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews for "distinguished leadership in civic and industrial affairs' for his generous contributions to the welfare of the youth of our nation; for aiding significantly the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God."