David W. Bernauer is a former chairman of Walgreen Co., the nation’s largest drugstore chain, from which he retired in 2007 after a 41-year career.

He joined Walgreens in 1966 as a pharmacy intern before graduating the following year from North Dakota State University (NDSU), Fargo, N.D., with a B.S. in pharmacy. He held various store operations positions before being named vice president and treasure in 1990.

Bernauer was promoted to vice president of purchasing and merchandising in 1992 and vice president and CIO in 1995. He was named a senior vice president in 1996 and president and COO in 1999. In January 2002, Bernauer was named CEO and in January 2003 became chairman and CEO.

In July 2006, Jeffrey A. Rein became CEO while Bernauer continued as chairman.

Bernauer is chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and serves on the board of directors of Office Depot and Lowe’s. He is also on the board of trustees of Chicago’s Field Museum, the board of directors of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), and is a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. Bernauer is founding member and chair emeritus of the American Cancer Society’s CEOs Against Cancer.

Walgreens is the nation’s largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2007 sales of $53.8 billion. The company operates more than 6,000 stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico, including 77 Happy Harry’s stores in Delaware and surrounding states. Walgreens is expanding its patient-first health care services beyond traditional pharmacy through Walgreens Health Services, its managed care division, and Take Care Health Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary that manages convenient care clinics inside drugstores. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc. and Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC.