Robert Walsh, Arthur Schmidt, and George Claytor formed Walsh & Associates, Inc. in 1968. The three St. Louis businessmen had joined Ashland Oil Company briefly following the acquisition of a small chemical distributor where they were employed. Encouraged by customers and suppliers to form an independent regional distribution company of their own, Walsh, Schmidt, and Claytor were fortunate to have several of the original suppliers align with the newly formed Walsh & Associates, Inc. The compan...