Dr. David Dalton, an award-winning pharmacist and biopharmaceutical entrepreneur, was recently honored with the “Bannered Hero” award from Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

The award was presented at a celebration for Pennsylvania’s African American Veterans, hosted by The State Museum of Pennsylvania and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Dalton was recognized as one of 12 “Bannered Heroes” at the event.

The Bannered Heroes program is sponsored by the Beta Pi Boulé Chapter (Harrisburg, PA) of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

The Boulé, founded in 1904, is the oldest African-American Greek organization and has included members such as W.E.B. DuBois, Charles R. Drew, James Weldon Johnson, Ralph Bunche, Andrew J. Young, Colin Powell, James E. Clyburn, John Lewis, Wynton Marsalis, Barak Obama, Kenneth Chenault, and Wes Moore.

Dalton is also a member of Sigma Pi Phi. The Boulé is committed to elevating Black communities by striving to eliminate barriers to civic, social, political, educational, and economic well-being.

Born in West Virginia and a resident of Dillsburg, PA for over thirty years, David Dalton obtained a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from West Virginia University in 1971 and was honored as one of the top 10 graduates over 100 years.

He became a Doctor of Pharmacy in 1974 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1976, where he was the first Black pharmaceutical executive in the chain drug industry.

He has received numerous accolades, including the U.S. Senatorial Medal of Freedom, and is inducted into four halls of fame. Dalton served in various capacities with Rite Aid Corporation, including Corporate Vice President.

Dalton is the CEO of UNIVEC, Inc. He is one of the original members and directors of the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs and founded the National Minority Health Association in 1988.

The International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare named Dalton one of the “Top 100 Healthcare Leaders” in 2019 and “Top 100 Healthcare Visionaries” in 2021.

Among the 40 companies he has founded, Health Resources, Inc. is the first African-American pharmaceutical and benefits management company, working with more than 50,000 retail pharmacies to fill prescriptions.

Dalton’s recognition as a Bannered Hero is historic and unique because the exhibition – the first of its kind – will remain in The Pennsylvania State Museum through Veteran’s Day.

Dalton is also one of the 18 veterans with a banner hanging in Pennsylvania’s Soldiers Grove, located behind the capitol.

Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, founded in Philadelphia in 1904, is the oldest Black Greek-letter graduate-level fraternity. The fraternity was established to support the vision of creating a fraternal union for Black men of achievement.

Sigma Pi Phi remains true to its original purposes of enhancing its members’ professional and interpersonal lives and contributing to the enhancement of underserved communities.

The fraternity has systematically embraced programs supporting historically Black colleges and universities, national civil rights organizations, local scholarship programs for youth, and community health and social, economic, and educational opportunities.

The fraternity contributed to establishing the Museum of African American History and Culture and continues to support organizations committed to enhancing community health and social, economic, and educational opportunities.