William D. Smithburg :::
William D. Smithburg
Graduated in 1956
Inducted in 1995
William D. Smithburg, a 1956 graduate, is a seasoned business executive. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Quaker Oats Company, he heads a $6 billion company. He earned a bachelor's degree from DePaul University and a master's in business from Northwestern University. Joining Quaker in 1966 as a brand manager, he was named a brand supervisor a year later, then General Manager of the Cereals Division in 1970. A Corporate Vice President in 1971, an Executive Vice President 1976, Smithburg was named President and Chief Operating Officer in 1979, becoming Quaker's President Chief Executive Officer in 1981. He assumed the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1983. He serves on many corporate boards, including the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Abbott Laboratories, Corning Glass, Northern Trust Company, Prime Capital Company, and Northwestern University. He has reshaped the company's portfolio of business through strategic acquisitions and divestitures.