Borrowing from ballardw's example, you can also use "><" (min) and "<>" (max). It works differently than the min() and max() functions, which only support numeric variables.
data work.example;
informat column1 column2 $10.;
input column1 column2;
min_of_col1_col2 = (column1 >< column2);
max_of_col1_col2 = (column1 <> column2);
datalines;
Kelly Katie
kelly Katie
Kelly katie
kelly katie
;
run;
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