Lawson Products founder Sidney Port died June 11 in Chicago. He was 96.

Port founded the MRO/OEM distributorship in 1952 at the age of 41, after working at his father-in-law's auto parts distribution business.

Port built Lawson into a multi-million dollar enterprise, taking it public in 1970. The company ranked 21st on INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION's 2007 Big 50 list of distributors, with 2006 sales of $518.2 million.

Port was a dedicated philanthropist, donating millions to the arts, charities, hospitals, universities and temples in his hometown of Chicago and in California.

In Chicago, the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Bellevue Place is named “Sid Port Place.”

He is survived by a son, Dr. Ronald B. (Carol) Port; a daughter, Roberta (Robert) Washlow; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Port's wife, Bettie, died in 1998 and a daughter, Sandi (James) Errant, died in 2004.