Willis "Bill" M. Bywater

Economy Advertising Company & Affiliates RE

Laureate 2007

Bill Bywaters love of the advertising and marketing field led him to become a fourth generation president of Economy Advertising Company-a parent company to Bankers Advertising Company and Tru Art Color Graphics. During his tenure, Economy Advertising expanded from their 127 year-old facility to a new, state of the art 18-acre industrial park and 100,000 square feet facility which has allowed the company to double the size of its personnel. This expansion also enabled Bill to utilize his mechanical engineering degree that he earned from Iowa State University.

From 1972-1976, Bill served on the Specialty Advertising Association International (SAAI) Board of Directors and several subsequent committees. Mr. Bywater has always been on the forefront of technological innovations in his field. As recognition for his efforts, he has received his fields highest achievement with his induction into the Promotional Products Association International Hall of Fame in 2004, joining an elite group of only 61 individuals.

Raised in the Iowa City area, Bywater has sat on numerous boards and contributed to numerous organizations throughout the community, state, nation, and internationally. He is especially proud of his service on the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governance Advisory Council, the University of Iowa School of Management Advisory Council, the Iowa Bankers Association, the Hoover Presidential Library Association, and the Iowa City Rotary Club. He has been honored with the John Hughes Award for Economic Development, two Service to Mankind Awards, and the Bankers Advertising Companys Presidents Circle Lifetime Achievement Diamond Award.