william h. child
William H. Child ( b.1932) has been chief executive officer of R.C. Willey Company for over 40 years. When he assumed management responsibilities in1954, the company was deeply in debt. He not only saved the company, but also created one of America's top home furnishings enterprises, moving it from annual sales of $250,000 to a powerful organization of 2,500 employees and $500 million in sales.
He attended Weber College in Utah, where he won awards in track. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah and honorary degrees from Weber College and Westminster College.
When R.C. Willey was acquired by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway in 1995, the purchase was a tribute to Bill Child's leadership abilities to his company, his industry, his church, and his community. He is widely known for his personal integrity and philanthropy.
He was president of the Utah Furniture Association in 1965, National Retailer of the Year in 1989, and named one of "America's Best Retailers" by Furniture/Today in 1996. He received the Tupelo Market National Buyer's award in 1997, the UFAC industry service "Dali" award in 1998, Utah "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2000, and the Furniture Marketing Group's Retail Executive of the year in 2001. Plus, he is the father of eight children. Their mother is Patricia known as "Pat."