In July 1973, the firm acquired the securities brokerage business of Laird, Inc.[1] The company, later known as G.H.

Walker, Laird & Co., was sold to White Weld & Co. in October 1974.

[2][3] White Weld, in turn, was sold to Merrill Lynch in 1978.

Other notable former employees include Bill Donaldson, later founder of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[4] Bert Walker, later served as chairman and CEO of Stifel Financial in the late 1970s and 1980s.