Remembering past Grand President and Hall of Famer William B. "Bill" Sayre
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – April 12, 2011 – Past Grand President and Brother William B. Sayre passed away yesterday morning at 6:00 a.m. after a long battle with cancer. He was initiated at Eta Chapter, Iowa State, in 1943. He served on the National Board from 1974 to 1980, and as Grand President he presided at the 1978 and 1980 Conventions. He also served as the Chairman of the Chapter House Loan Fund from 1965 to 1976, and on the Educational Foundation Board from 1980 to 1986. He is also a Hall of Fame member (1978), a New Founder and Brother of the Century. He attended many conventions and supported many AGR activities, including establishing the Sayre fund to sponsor new or enhanced Foundation-sponsored retreats, conferences, seminars and similar opportunities.During his days at Iowa State, his schooling was interrupted by World War II. He served in the US Marine Corps and saw combat in Guadalcanal and Okinawa from 1943 to 1946, returning to finish a bachelor of science degree in 1948. He actively farmed from 1948 to 1964, and maintained the farm for most of his life. He then became vice president of Continental Bank of Chicago in charge of Agricultural Real Estate as well as on the Trust Real Estate Investment Committee, where he retired in 1984. He was vice president of the Iowa Pork Producers and a member of their national board of directors, a member of the National Board of American Society of Agricultural Consultants and President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Farm Manager and Rural Appraisers. He is survived by his wife, Ruthann, a son, two daughters and several grandchildren.
"Bill was a very dedicated and supportive AGR brother for nearly 70 years. Few brothers gave more to AGR’s great Brotherhood," says Philip Josephson, Executive Director.
Brother Sayre's visitation will take place on Sunday, April 17 from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Southminister Presbyterian Church, 916 East Central Rd., Arlington Heights, IL. The funeral is scheduled for Monday, April 18 at 10 a.m., also set to be held at Southminister Presbyterian Church. A second memorial service is planned for Saturday, May 7 at 10:30 a.m. in the Harbor Room at the Moorings of Arlington Heights, 811 East Central, Arlington Heights, IL.
