Bill Speakman III, chairman of the board of Speakman Co., passed away on April 11 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 67. Great-grandson of the founder of the Speakman Co., Allen Speakman, Mr. Speakman began his career with the Speakman Co. in 1962. He succeeded his father, Willard Allen Speakman, Jr., as president of the company in 1971 and became chairman in 1978, a position he held until his death. A prominent member of the business community in Wilmington, DE, he also served as the chairman of the board of JB Brown (Portland, ME). In addition, he was the former president of the Foundation for Economic Education and was on the board of directors of the independent Institute.
