Chairman of the Maritz Inc. company, which is headquartered in Fenton, Missouri. Established in 1894 by his grandfather, the company was originally known as E. Maritz Jewelry Manufacturing Company. When William joined the company in 1953, it was known as Maritz Sales Builders. The family-owned company is one of the nation’s largest employee motivation companies & has also branched out into market research & travel. William Maritz was named the St. Louis Citizen of the Year in 1998, & was one of the founders of what is now Fair St. Louis. He helped to keep the Admiral riverboat in St. Louis, created a promenade on the eastern side of the Gateway Arch, had decorative lights installed on the Eads Bridge, & converted Laclede’s Landing from a warehouse district to a tourist & nightlife center. (bio by: Connie Nisinger)