Hillsdale College Remembers Trustee Emeritus William S. Atherton
Atherton passed away on Feb. 25 at the age of 92.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College is saddened by the passing of Trustee Emeritus William S. Atherton, who served on the College’s Board of Trustees from 1994-2020. He passed away on Feb. 25 at the age of 92.
“William Atherton was a kind and hard-working man who served the College faithfully for many years,” said Rich Péwé, chief administrative officer of Hillsdale College. “He modeled fierce independence alongside unwavering commitment to the principles and purposes of the College. We are grateful for his friendship and generosity, and our prayers are with his family.”
“He modeled fierce independence alongside unwavering commitment to the principles and purposes of the College.”
Atherton joined the Hillsdale College Board of Trustees in 1994 and served in that capacity until 2020, when he was granted emeritus status. During his time on the Board, he served on the outreach committee.
Atherton was a co-founder, chairman, and CEO of A & M Food Service, Inc. from 1964 to 1986, when the company was merged into PepsiCo, Inc. At the time of the merger, A & M Food Service was the largest Pizza Hut franchise in the United States. Bill was also founder of Taco Hut, Inc. and served as chairman and CEO until its sale in 1983. He was a partner of Atherton & Murphy Investment Company and Chairman of Atherton Restaurant Systems, Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Atherton is survived by his wife, three children, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and sister.
For a photo of Atherton, click here. For photos of Hillsdale College, click here. For a high-resolution copy of the Hillsdale College clocktower logo, click here.