William E. Levis*
Class of 1955
- Chairman Owens-Illinois Glass Company
Working oneself up through the ranks is practically an American rite of passage.
William Levis was born in Alton, Illinois, in 1890. In 1913, he graduated from the University of Illinois and joined his family's business, the Illinois Glass Company, as a car loader. He worked his way up to eventually became president in 1928. Levis became one of the nation's foremost industrial leaders, and under his leadership, Illinois Glass merged with Owens Bottle Company. In 1950, after serving 20 years as CEO and later as board chairman of Owens-Illinois, Inc., Levis retired.