In 1992 Sid Craig donated 10-million dollars to the Fresno State Business School, now the schools named after him. One of Craig's closest friends says that he always took care of those around him.
Sally and Fritz Lauritzen say they knew Sid Craig's health was failing him and his death Monday was not a surprise.
Fritz Lauritzen: "He was at the home in Del Mar and Jenny got the word to Sid that we called so that was very important to us."
Lauritzen was Craig's classmate at Fresno State back in the fifties. Craig was a dancer and managed Fresno's Arthur Murray Dance Studio to pay for school. But Craig never graduated from Fresno State. Lauritzen said Craig got "lucky" and bought several of the Arthur Murray Studios that he worked in.
"He ended up with the five top Arthur Murray Dance Studios in the United States."
Craig met his wife Jenny in Louisiana. The two started up the multi-million dollar health food company Jenny Craig. Lauritzen says no matter what part of the county Craig lived in he was always in touch with friends in the valley.
"He never forgot his friends. Not too many years would go by where Sid would not call us and invite us down to Del Mar."
One of Craigs passions was race horses. And in this picture helping Craig celebrate a near victory is current Fresno State President and long time friend Dr. John Welty.
Dr. John Welty: "I'll miss the insights that he had and the aspirations that he had for Fresno State."
In '92 the philanthropist and his wife gave a large donation to Fresno State. Craig donated 10-million dollars to the business school helping turn it into a premier collegiate destination.
Dr. John Welty: "He's an example of someone who took advantage of the opportunity he had at Fresno State to really become a national leader."
There will be a funeral service for Craig in San Diego next Tuesday. It's an area where he spent much of his time supporting local charities and engaged in business ventures.
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