Hershey’s Chocolate World opens new ride and retail facilities following first major renovation since its opening in 1973.

Robert C. Vowler is elected Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The M.S. Hershey Foundation. He is appointed to Operations Committee (Chair) and the Investment Committee.

Hershey Trust Company assumes responsibility for The M.S. Hershey Foundation accounting functions.

Hershey Foods Corporation completes purchase of Cadbury Schweppes’ U.S. confectionery operations. Cash consideration was $270 million, plus assumption of $30 million in debts. Hershey also enters into licensing arrangement to manufacture, market, and distribute Cadbury’s U.S. confectionery brands including: “Peter Paul Mounds”, “Peter Paul Almond Joy”, “York Peppermint Pattie”, and “Cadbury” label items including “Dairy […]

Milton Hershey School creates 2 new divisions: Division of Planning and Research and Division of Human Resources.

Governor Robert P. Casey’s first Inaugural Ball is held in Founders Hall.

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center breaks ground for a new University Physicians Center.

Milton Hershey School publishes the first issue of “Resources”, an employee newsletter.

Hersheypark kicks off its 80th Anniversary season with the debut of the $4 million “Canyon River Rapids” white-water rapids ride.

Robert C. Vowler is named Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of Hershey Trust Company.

Hershey’s Kisses celebrates 80th anniversary. Largest “Kiss”, made earlier in 1987, weighs 400 pounds and measured 3 feet in diameter and 30 inches in height.

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center breaks ground for new $32.5 million South Addition to the University Hospital.

J. Bruce McKinney is elected Chief Executive Officer of HERCO Inc. He continues in this position until 2000.

Hershey’s Chocolate World Visitors Center begins $4.5 million renovation. Extensive changes to the automated tour and dining areas are included.

Hershey Lodge & Convention Center celebrates its 20th Anniversary.

A single-day attendance record of 29,686 guests is established for Hersheypark.

HERCO announces its withdrawal from Hershey Lake Compounce Amusement Park in Bristol, Connecticut.

Y&S Candies, Inc. announces plans to expand its Lancaster, Pennsylvania confectionery plant by 40,000 square feet.

The Post Office Building on East Chocolate Avenue is dismantled.

Hershey’s “Chocolate World” Visitors Center welcomes its 20 millionth visitor.

Dr. Harry Prystowsky retires as Dean of The Pennsylvania State College of Medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and as the University Senior Vice President for Health Affairs.

Hershey Lake Compounce Amusement Park opens to the public in Bristol, Connecticut.

Friendly Ice Cream Corporation completes the purchase of “Idlenot Farm Restaurant” chain.

The Board of Directors of Hershey Foods Corporation declares a three-for-one split of the Corporation’s Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, to become effective September 15, 1986.

William R. Fisher is named Chief Executive Officer of the Milton Hershey School.

Hershey Foods Corporation completes purchase of the confectionery operations of “The Dietrich Corporation,” including Luden’s, maker of “Luden’s Cough Drops,” “5th Avenue” candy bar, and “Luden’s Mello Mints” candy mints; and “Queen Anne,” a producer of chocolate covered cherries and other confections.

The M.S. Hershey Medical Center’s aero-medical helicopter, “Life Lion”, is introduced to the press.

Hersheypark breaks ground for “Canyon River Rapids”, white-water ride, the first new major ride in a decade.

Hershey Trust Company sells 5,175,000 shares of Hershey Foods Corporation Common Stock in a secondary offering to the general public.

Hershey Trust Company sells 3,825,000 shares of Hershey Foods Common Stock to Hershey Foods. Those shares are retired by Hershey Foods and become authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock.

Hershey Foods Corporation reaches $2 billion in annual sales.

Hersheypark Arena marks its 50th Birthday.

Friendly Ice Cream Corporation completes purchase of “Litchfield Farm Shops, Inc.”, a chain of 23 family-style restaurants in Connecticut.

Vincent B. Rudisill is elected Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Hershey Trust Company.

HERCO Inc. opens The Hershey Corpus Christi Hotel.

Richard A. Zimmerman is named Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Hershey Foods Corporation.

Kenneth L. Wolfe is named President and Chief Operating Officer of Hershey Foods Corporation.

Hershey Bank shareholders approve merger of the bank with PNC Financial Corporation.

Dr. John Dossett is named Medical Director at Milton Hershey School. Medical services are provided by the Pediatrics Department of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

HERCO, Inc. breaks ground for the redevelopment of Lake Compounce Amusement Park in Bristol and Southington, Connecticut.

Hershey Pasta Group reaches $100 million in annual sales.

The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center acquires 169 acres of land adjacent to the east edge of the campus from the Hershey Trust Company, Trustee, Milton Hershey School.

Friendly Ice Cream Corporation acquires “Franklin’s Restaurants.”

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center implants the first Penn State Mechanical Heart.

Hershey Foods Corporation sells Cory Food Services, Inc. and Cory Canada Inc. divisions to ARA Services, Inc.

John F. Cauley is named Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for Friendly Ice Cream Corporation.

J. Bruce McKinney is named President and Chief Operating Officer of HERCO Inc.

Hershey Chocolate Company announces plans to construct a new warehouse facility and install a chocolate processing operation at the H.B. Reese Candy Company Plant.

Hershey Bank is officially merged into PNC Financial Corporation as its 5th bank at a holding company level. Hershey Bank will continue to maintain its own name and Board of Directors.

First meeting of newly formed Executive Committee of Milton Hershey School. In addition to the President, the following divisions are represented on the committee: Finance, Agri-Business, Business Administration, Education, Residential Program, and Student Personnel Services.

Hershey Trust Company Board of Directors authorize the voting of its Hershey Bank shares in favor of a merger with PNC Financial Corporation at any meeting of the shareholders.

Hershey’s National Track and Field Youth Program Final is held at Milton Hershey School’s Henry Hershey Field. It is the first event held at the new field and track.

Milton Hershey School begins year-long observance of its 75th Anniversary.

Henry Hershey Field is dedicated in conjunction with homecoming as part of Milton Hershey School celebration of the 75th Anniversary.

Juliet C. Rowland is the first woman to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Hershey Trust Company and to the Board of Managers of Milton Hershey School.

Largest crowds ever, an estimated 250,000 people, turn out for the Antique Automobile Club of America’s (AACA)Eastern Division National Fall Meet on the fields surrounding Hersheypark. The meet is held October 11-13.

Friendly Ice Cream Corporation opens its 700th restaurant in Fairport, New York.

Ground is broken for $2.8 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility for clinical care and research at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Hershey Foods Corporation acquires American Beauty Macaroni from Pilsbury Company.

Hershey “Ronald McDonald House” is dedicated.

Joseph P. Viviano is named President of Hershey Chocolate Company.

Hershey Bank announces highest earnings in Bank’s history: 1984 net earnings increased 21.7 percent to $1,436,000 from $1,180,000 in 1983.

William R. Fisher is elected President of Milton Hershey School.

Golden Pecan introduced.

Hershey Commerce Center, Hersheypark Drive, officially opens.

Take Five candy bar, a light wafer bar layered with peanut creme and covered with milk chocolate, introduced. Discontinued February 1986.

Hershey Chocolate’s new Distribution Center in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania opens.

Ground is broken for the “Ronald McDonald House” at 741 Governor Road.

Construction begins on new development, “Crest of Hershey.”

First Eye Bank in central Pennsylvania opens at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Hershey Nursery opens a new 28 x 50 foot greenhouse.

Spartan Lounge opens at Catherine Hall.

Child Psychiatry in-patient unit opens at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Hershey Bank reports income of $1,180,000, the highest net income achieved in the 58 year history of the bank. Also, total assets are $116,673,000, also the highest in the bank’s history.

Robert C. Allen is elected as President of the Hershey Trust Company.