August A. Busch III is Chairman of the Board of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., a $14.9 billion, St. Louis-based, global corporation that includes the world's largest brewing organization, one of the world's largest U.S. manufacturers of aluminum beverage containers, and one of the largest theme park operations in the country. Better known to many consumers by such icons as Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and the Clydesdales, the 150-year-old company is synonymous with quality and leadership in everything it does.

During his 28 years of leadership of the company, Mr. Busch earned a reputation as one of the most effective executives in American industry, growing the company's beer business at a rate seldom equaled among major U.S. corporations, and building entrepreneurial packaging and theme park businesses into industry leaders as well.

In addition, Mr. Busch was recognized as one of America's leading corporation citizens, with long-standing and aggressive support for the communities in which the company does business, as well as alcohol awareness efforts, environmental conservation, educational opportunities and disaster relief.

The world's largest brewer and U.S. industry leader since 1957, Anheuser-Busch brews more than 30 beers and non-alcohol brews at 12 breweries and imports several other beers for domestic distribution. Anheuser-Busch's flagship Budweiser family of brands accounts for more than 30 percent of all beer sold in the United States.

During Mr. Busch's leadership, company profits increased from $85 million in 1975 to $1.7 billion in 2001. During that time, company beer sales grew 185 percent, compared to industry-wide domestic growth of only 35 percent. Anheuser-Busch's corresponding share of the U.S. beer market more than doubled, from 23 percent in 1975 to nearly 49 percent in 2001-more than two-and-a-half time that of its nearest competitor.

Anheuser-Busch is also the world's leading brewer with a market share of more than 10.7 percent. Moreover, with an aim of making Anheuser-Busch the world's beer company, Budweiser is brewed locally in 10 markets outside the United States and is sold in more than 80 countries.