Fayette native William A. Andres and his wife, Betty, generously donated $2.1 million for the construction of Upper Iowa University's Andres Center for Business and Education, to continue UIU's commitment to future education and business leaders.
William A. Andres was born in Fayette, Iowa in 1926, where his parents owned and operated a grocery and dry goods store called the Clover Farm Store. Growing up in Fayette, he attended Fayette Consolidated Schools and graduated from Fayette High School. Bill was accepted to Upper Iowa University on scholarship, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
Bill Andres’ undergraduate education at UIU was interrupted during World War II from 1944 to 1946, when he enlisted in the US Army. He served as a 2nd Lt. and while home on furlough met his future wife, Betty, whom he married in 1947.
Bill received a Master’s Degree in Retailing from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949 and went on to become one of the most successful business men in the world today, rising to the position of Chairman and C.E.O. of Dayton Hudson Corporation (Target Stores), and skyrocketing the company to annual revenues of over $5.6 billion under his leadership.
The fine leadership skills and high standards of ethics and intellect led Bill Andres to many more accomplishments and awards, some of which are mentioned here: served on the boards of Josten's, The St. Paul Company, Munsingwear, International Multifoods, Exxon Oil, Scott Paper, Lowe's, Hannaford, First Bank Systems, Northwestern Bell Telephone, Fairview Hospitals, Carleton College, and the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis; Chapter President of the Minneapolis Chapter of the United Way; Minnesota Executive of the Year Award; Gold Medal in Retailing Award from the National Retail Merchants Association; three time winner of Financial World Magazine’s Outstanding C.E.O. Award; UIU Distinguished Alumnus Award; and Honorary Doctorate from Upper Iowa University.
Bill Andres died February 9, 2000. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and three sons, Robert, Charles and Richard.
