William J. Fenner, Sr.

Bill Fenner started his dairy industry career at Western Dairy, a family business in St. Joseph, Missouri. He held almost every position in the dairy until he was called to serve as a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.

Following his discharge, Bill graduated from the Business School of the University of Missouri. He initially joined Quaker Oats but soon gained employment with Drew Chemical, learning about the stabilizer/emulsifier business. In 1964 he founded Star Chemical in St. Joseph with the idea of blending customized formulations of hydrocolloids and emulsifiers to enhance the body and texture of frozen desserts and cultured dairy products.

Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit, business skills and drive guided the business to rapid growth. A new site and name change to Star Blends followed in the late 1960s. The business grew and needed more space for equipment and employees. In 1978 a new 3-fold, larger plant was built.

By 1985, Bill, his partners, employees and stakeholders had grown the business to a level that commanded international attention. The Danish firm, Grinsted Products, offered to buy Star Blends. After Bill and his family considered the offer for several months, they decided to sell in 1986. Bill remained as President of the Star Blends Division of Grinsted Products for an additional three years. Although retired from that management position, Bill remains active in the dairy industry as a member of boards of directors of dairy firms.

Grinsted Products became a part of Danisco A/S through a merger of Danish firms in 1993. Danisco, the world leader in stabilizer/emulsifier technology and supply, operates a state-of-the-art facility in St. Joseph. The factory, the largest of its kind in the world, ships products to all seven continents. It continues to employ at least 15 persons who were with Bill’s firm in the late 1980s.

Among Bill’s significant contributions to the dairy industry were the use of inexpensive guar gum to control water in frozen desserts and an improved process for adding vitamins A and D to fluid milk products. He has provided financial support to the Dairy Products Evaluation teams of the University of Missouri for many years.

Bill’s employees and customers admired his commitment to service, his business acumen, and his leadership. Long-term employees still tell of blending a truckload of stabilizer for a customer very late on a Christmas Eve. Others tell of him sending a small amount of product across the state by car to keep a customer operating until a large shipment could be delivered. Bill’s granddaughter, Elizabeth, was a member of the MU Dairy Products Evaluation team, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Food Science, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at MU. His sons are James and William, Jr.

Bill’s nominators included members of the Missouri Dairy Products Association.