Remembering Bill Warner Sr.
Bill Warner, Sr. held many roles during his 30-year career at Merchants, elected President in 1985 and Chairman of the Board in 1993. Bill’s dedication to Merchants was matched by his passion for sports. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, Bill was also an avid supporter of the teams at his alma mater, Louisiana State University. But Bill wasn’t just a sports fan, he also loved to play. An accomplished golfer, he was a member of his high school’s golf team, played in two National Amateur tournaments, medaled in the Iowa State Amateur, was a club champion in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a long-time member at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa.
Bill passed away from cancer in June of 2000. In 2010, the first Golf Classic was held in Bill's honor, raising more than $70,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.