Steven Rales '73 is Executive Producer of The Darjeeling Limited

December 17, 2007

December 17, 2007, Greencastle, Ind. - "When the credits roll at the end of the comedy hit movie The Darjeeling Limited, some Washingtonians might scratch their heads at seeing 'Steven M. Rales, executive producer,'" notes an item on the 1973 DePauw University graduate published in this month's Washingtonian magazine. "Bloggers on movie sites even speculated that the name was a nom de plume for Steven Spielberg."

Noting that Rales is "notoriously press-shy," Kim Eisler writes, "In real life, (he) is more associated with the business of making hammers and wrenches. As the founders of Danaher Corporation, Steven and his brother Mitchell own Craftsman, which supplies nearly all the hardware for Sears ... Last year (Steven) Rales funded a film venture called Indian Paintbrush, with offices in Santa Monica. Danaher Corporation was named after a trout stream in Montana surrounded by the wild Indian-paintbrush flower."

The Darjeeling Limited -- directed by Wes Anderson and starring Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman -- "is about three brothers' railroad journey through India to find their mother at a remote convent," writes Eisler.

Access the complete story at the magazine's Web site.

"Danaher is probably the best-run conglomerate in America," stated Business Week earlier this year.

A major gift by Steven Rales made possible DePauw University's Richard E. Peeler Art Center, which was dedicated in 2002.

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