Discover the fascinating history of Appleton with the Appleton Historical Society and Appleton Public Library! Join us for engaging, monthly presentations where history comes alive – every 2nd Wednesday at 6:30 pm (no December meeting). Each session features a different speaker and topic, all dedicated to celebrating and exploring Appleton’s rich past. Best of all, it’s completely free and open to everyone – no membership required! Learn more about Appleton Historical Society at
https://www.appletonhistory.com/.
This month’s presentation: Farm to Wall Street & Back
Join the Appleton Historical Society on Wednesday, June 11 at 6:30 PM for a fascinating evening with Bill Raaths, as he shares insights from his book “Farm to Wall Street and Back.”
Written shortly after his retirement as CEO of Great Northern Corporation, Raaths’ book traces the remarkable journey from his roots on a 1950s dairy farm to his impactful career on Wall Street and in executive leadership. Drawing from personal stories—including a formative year in Vietnam—Bill will reflect on the experiences that shaped his business philosophy and leadership style.
The heart of his talk will focus on his unique perspective as President and CEO of four influential companies that all began right here in the Fox Valley: Artfaire, Wisconsin Tissue Mills, Anchor Foods, and Great Northern Corporation. Bill will explore each company's entrepreneurial beginnings, their evolution, and what contributed to their success. Adding further depth to the evening, one or more members from the founding families of these companies will join Bill to share their unique insights.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from one of the region’s most accomplished business leaders about the people, moments, and decisions that helped shape some of the Fox Valley’s most iconic enterprises.
Presented by Bill Raaths
Bill Raaths, a Shawano native and graduate of Bonduel High School, earned his degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1969. Shortly after, he served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, including a year stationed in Vietnam. Bill and his wife, Natalie, have two sons and are proud grandparents to four grandchildren. Over the course of a distinguished business career, he held leadership roles at several prominent companies, including Fort Howard Paper Company, Philip Morris Industrial, Wisconsin Tissue Mills, Chesapeake Consumer Products (formerly Artfaire), Georgia-Pacific Commercial Tissue, Anchor Foods, and Great Northern Corporation, where he ultimately retired as CEO.
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