William Phillips brought big changes to milling firm

When William Phillips took over the helm of the old International Milling Co. in 1968, he was a newcomer to the Twin Cities.

Phillips, 88, who changed the direction of the company and changed its name to International Multifoods Co., died Friday in Fort Myers, Fla., after a long illness.

After leading the Glidden Co. in Cleveland, he was recruited to lead the milling firm. The company had a small consumer products division, notably selling Robin Hood Flour regionally.

But he emphasized expansion into consumer products, and after little more than a year, he changed the name and got it listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

After he became the president and CEO, the company marketed its consumer products across the nation. Some were Morey's fish, Kaukauna cheeses and Smoke Craft meat snacks

And he greatly expanded operations in South America, said Dick King, of Richfield, retired vice president of finance for the company.

"He was very clear, envisioning the future," said King. "He was a positive thinker, a creative leader.

In 1968, the Twin Cities business community wasn't used to a newcomer leading an old-line Minneapolis company, said Dave Mona, who was a public relations director for Phillips.

"He had a full plate, because he recognized that he should get rapidly and deeply involved in the community," Mona said.

Phillips played leadership roles on nearly 30 public-service and business boards. In 1973, he became president of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. In 1979, he became a trustee of Hamline University. And in 1982, he became chairman of what was then the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

He was particularly proud of being a member of the board of the Viking Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said his daughter Connie Tressel of Columbus, Ohio.

The Eagle Scout grew up in Cleveland, and in 1942, he graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

In addition to Connie, he is survived by his wife of 65 years, Laverne Phillips of Fort Myers, Fla.; his other daughter, Karen Veronica of Mount Gilead, Ohio; son, Scott of Michigan City, Ind.; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.