Will Keith Kellogg

April 7, 1860 - October 6, 1951

W. K. Kellogg is best known as the inventor of corn flakes. However, he is also recognized as one of the United States greatest philanthropists.

The cereal giant started out as a broom salesman in the family owned business located in Battle Creek Michigan in his late teens.

W.K. became a clerk at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, also known as the San, shortly thereafter with prompting from his older brother John. John Kellogg was the physician-in-chief who ran the Sanitarium.

Will Kellogg was bookkeeper and manager of the world-famous hospital. Will and John developed San Health Foods in an attempt to improving the vegetarian diet of the San's patients. Specifically they searched for a digestible bread-substitute by processing boiled wheat. In 1894, Will Kellogg accidentally left a pot of boiled wheat to stand. The wheat became tempered so that when it was put through the usual rolling process, each grain of wheat emerged as a large, thin flake. Flake cereal was born.

Born April 7, 1860, Will lacked a formal education beyond the sixth grade. However, when he died Oct. 6, 1951, at the age of 91, he had amassed a fortune. W. K Kellogg believed that “dollars have never been known to produce character, and character will never be produced by money.” Based on this belief none of his children would become wealthy by inheritance. The majority of his fortune was donated to help others. Specifically, to help people help themselves through education.

“Relief, raiment and shelter are necessary for destitute children, but the greatest good for the greatest number can come only through the education of the child, the parent, the teacher, the family physician, and the community. In general education offers the greatest opportunity for really improving one generation over another.” W.K Kellogg