Hershey Chocolate Corporation makes an initial public offering of 350,000 shares of convertible preferred stock. The offering is made through the National City Company and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The initial price is $61.50 a share. ($39.625 [ 5/8 ] according to Hershey Foods Investor Relations 10/2/2002)

Milton Hershey School discontinues its traditional farm program. 500 acres and five learning centers are kept as part of the Agricultural and Environmental Education Program.

Milton Hershey School opens the new Fanny B. Hershey Memorial Hall, its new elementary school located west of Catherine Hall

The Hershey Partnership, an independent, non-profit orgranization dedicated to promoting and developing business in Hershey, is established.

Governor Tom Ridge’s Inaugural Ball held at Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

Luden’s citrus assortment throat drops and Sugarfree Wild Cherry throat drops introduced. The citrus assortment includes pink lemonade, grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime flavors.

Three new baking products, Hershey’s Raspberry Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, Hershey’s SKOR English Toffe Bits and Hershey’s Holiday Candy Coated Bits introduced.

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center dedicates it new Pediatric Outpatient Clinic.

Hershey Foods Corporation announces a donation to MORR-SIGHT, a special program that enables thousands of needy Pennsylvanians to receive free eye screenings and free eyeglasses. The contribution is being made in honor of the Corporation’s Centennial.

Hershey Foods Corporation sells Hummingbird-Hershey, Ltd., a cocoa farm in Belize, to Hummingbird Agribusiness, Ltd.

Rod Pera, Esq. resigns as acting president for Milton Hershey School.

William L. Lepley begins tenure as the 7th president of Milton Hershey School.

The Hershey Medical Center Department of Family and Community Medicine begins inpatient service at University Hospital for family and community medicine patients with general medical problems.

Hershey Medical Center opens its Center for Emergency Medicine with an expanded Emergency Department area, renovated and enlarged trauma suites, and an expansion of emergency radiology services.

Hershey Medical Center begins Chapel construction with a “wall-breaking” ceremony.

Hershey Medical Center and Capital Blue Cross announce an agreement to jointly provide administrative support and managed care consulting services to primary care practices.

Grand opening of Hotel Hershey’s new restaurant, The Fountain Cafe.

HERCO sells Hershey Country Club and Parkview Golf to National Golf Operating Partners, L.P.. They will be managed by American Golf Corporation. In addition, American Golf Corporation will also manage Spring Creek Golf Course and the Hotel Hershey golf course.

The 20th and final Lady Keystone Open golf tournament is held at the Hershey Country Club.

Hersheypark opens “Tidal Force,” the tallest splashdown ride in the world.

Hershey Foods Corporation marks the start of its Centennial year celebration.

Hershey Foods Corporation and General Mills team up to create a new cereal, Reese’s Peanut Butter Puffs.

Hershey Meats and Commissary sells its institutional food distribution line to Feesers Food Distributors, Inc. of Harrisburg, PA.

HERCO, Inc. sells Hershey Meats and Commissary land and building to Hershey Foods Corporation.

Hotel Hershey begins construction for The Fountain Cafe restaurant. It is the first major construction project at the Hotel in more than a decade.

Hersheypark breaks ground for its new $4 million ride, “Tidal Force.” It is billed as the tallest water plunge ride in the world.

John B. Zerbe retires as President and C.O.O. of HERCO, Inc.

HERCO, Inc. and Hershey Foods Corporation host a stage of the Tour Du Pont, America’s premier cycling event, for the second year.

Milton Hershey School announces that Dr. Arthur Levine of Harvard Graduate School of Education has been selected to become the school’s sixth President. Dr. Levine declines the position July 12, citing personal reasons.

Milton Hershey School Board of Managers adopts a resolution to add a vocational component to the School’s Vocational-Technical Program (earlier called the Technology Program that succeeded the phase-out of job specific vocational education).

Milton Hershey School announces the selection of Dr. William L. Lepley, head of the Iowa Department of Education, to be the School’s next President.

Milton Hershey School teachers file with National Labor Relations Board to have Pennsylvania State Education Association represent them for collective bargaining. The teachers vote to unionize on November 19, 1993.

Milton Hershey School houseparents file with National Labor Relations Board to have the Chocolate Workers Union Local 464 represent them for collective bargaining.

National Institute for Youth Science breaks ground at the Milton Hershey School Spring Creek home.

Tender Year Day Care breaks ground for a new facility at 50 East Chocolate Avenue.

Bar None candy bar reformulated. The new bar has two pieces each containing layers of chocolate wafer separated by chocolate filling, topped with peanuts and caramel and enrobed in chocolate.

Hershey Pasta Group acquires operating assets and trademarks of the Ideal Macaroni Company, the Mrs. Weiss Noodle Company and Pranzo D’Oro Inc.

Hershey Chocolate, U.S.A. introduces new Easter items including pastel-wrapped Mounds and Almond Joy miniatures, and Hershey’s chocolate covered Marshmallow Eggs.

Hershey’s Super Shake, a refrigerated dairy shake, introduced in the northeastern United States. Flavors include vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.

Almond Joy and Mounds miniatures introduced.

Hershey Foods Corporation sells its 41.7% interest in Petybon S.A. to Bunge & Born Group.

Hershey Foods Corporation sells G&R Pasta Company to Siemer Milling Company, Tuetopolis, Illinois.

Five cent milk chocolate bar discontinued. Ten cent bar becomes standard bar.

Milton Hershey purchases from Mary A. Bowers a residence at 222 South Queen Street, Lancaster

Milton Hershey submits application for the incorporation of the Lancaster Caramel Company. Hershey Chocolate Company is named as a subsidiary of the Caramel Company.

Richard A. Zimmerman retires as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Hershey Foods Corporation.

Hershey Trust Company, Trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust, sells two million shares of Hershey Foods Corporation stock to Hershey Foods Corporation as part of a company repurchase program.

Hershey Trust Company assumes management of the Hershey Cemetery. The cemetery was previously operated by HERCO, Inc.

Hershey Bank is renamed PNC Bank by its owner, PNC Bank, N.A.

HERCO Inc. transfers its operating lease for the Philadelphia Hilton and Towers to Doubletree Hotels.

Hershey Meats and Commissary retail distribution line is sold to Hatfield Quality Meats Inc., Hatfield, PA.

HERCO, Inc. sells The Lumber Yard to the Wolf Organization.

Milton Hershey School publishes the first issue of “Legacy” for Alumni, parents, staff, and the general public.

Milton Hershey School closes the Fruit Farm, located west of Hershey along Hersheypark Drive.

Milton Hershey School Admissions Offices move to the Homestead.

Rod Pera, Chairman of the Board of Managers, Milton Hershey School, is named Acting President of the Milton Hershey School.

The Hershey Recreation Center, a non-profit corporation, is established by The M.S. Hershey Foundation to provide recreational opportunities for Derry Township. The Center also will administer the Community Building and Cocoa Plaza facilities.

HERCO and Hershey Foods Corporation sponsor and host Stage 4 and 5 of the Tour Du Pont, America’s premier cycling event. The cycling race covers 1100 miles, starting in Wilmington DE and passing through PA, VA and MD.

Milton Hershey School Alumni Association celebrate the first Alumni weekend to be held in Founders Hall.

Birthdate of Harry Burnett Reese at Frosty Hill (York County), Pennsylvania.

H.B. Reese Candy Company begins manufacturing a five cent peanut butter cup. (date approximate)

Hershey Chocolate Corporation gifts Hershey with Cocoa Plaza, an indoor-outdoor pool and recreation center.

Reese’s peanut butter, in both smooth and crunchy versions, introduced nationally.

Hershey Foods Corporation signs an agreement to sell Queen Anne chocolate covered cherries to Portland Food Products Company, located in Portland, Oregon.