William Spoor

William Spoor helped transform Pillsbury from a flour maker into a major diversified food company, growing the Minnesota corporate icon’s sales more than fivefold during his tenure as CEO. Spoor served as CEO from 1973 to 1985, a time when Pillsbury bought Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs, Totino’s Pizza, Steak & Ale and Godfather’s Pizza, among other brands. The company also expanded Burger King, which it then owned. With Pillsbury struggling in 1988, particularly in its Burger King unit, Spoor came back as interim CEO. But the company was sold later that year to Grand Metropolitan (now Diageo), and sold again in 2001 to crosstown rival General Mills Inc. A Colorado native, Spoor served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. He graduated in 1949 with a history degree from Dartmouth College, where he lettered in track and football. After Spoor graduated, he joined Pillsbury as an area sales manager, and then worked his way up — focusing on international growth of the flour-and-bakery company. Spoor, who declined to publicly discuss Pillsbury after the Grand Metropolitan takeover, remained active in civic affairs in the Twin Cities, and served on several boards. During his business career, Spoor was a director of the United Negro College Fund, helped raise $32 million for the Minnesota Orchestral Association and served a number of charities. Spoor was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Janet Spain Spoor. He is survived by his three children; six grandchildren; and his brother.