William Davila

William "Bill" Davila (born Guillermo Davila; April 25, 1931 – February 14, 2014) was an American soldier and businessman. He was involved with many nationally known companies in the United States, including Vons Supermarkets, which he presided twice, first from 1984 to 1990 and then as president emeritus from 1992 to 1998; The Home Depot, Wells Fargo,[1] Hormel Foods and others. He was also president of the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC).

For the Venezuelan actor and singer, see Guillermo Davila.
William Davila
Born(1931-04-25)April 25, 1931
Los Angeles, California
DiedFebruary 14, 2014(2014-02-14) (aged 82)
Other namesGuillermo Davila, Bill Davila
Occupation(s)U.S.A.F. airman, Chief Executive Officer of Vons Supermarkets
Years activelate 1940s-1998
SpouseDorothy Davila
ChildrenDiane, Deborah, Lisa, David and Bill Jr.
AwardsMarshall School of Business Food Industry Executive of the Year, 1994

Davila also became a television and radio personality in the Los Angeles area, the Los Angeles Times once declaring he had been "catapulted to near-celebrity status by his television and radio pitches". He participated on Vons radio and television commercials.[2]

Early life

Bill Davila who is of Mexican descent, was born to Salvador Davila and Polly Lopez-Davila in Los Angeles, California on April 25, 1931. He was the couple's only child. Davila attended the Mount Lowe Military Academy from where he went on to the Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles.

As a young man, Davila obtained a job at Vons sweeping floors. It wasn't long before he met his future wife Dorothy while at the job.[3]

Davila joined the United States Air Force in 1951; he was discharged in 1954[1] having served as a drill Sergeant.

In 1952, he married Dorothy Davila.

Success with Vons

Davila returned to work at Vons almost immediately after being honorably discharged from the Air Force, in 1955. Twenty years later, in 1975, Kenneth O. Olsen, then president of the Vons Grocery Company, announced that Davila, along with Donald Stuetz, J.R. Risher, William Birney and Richard London would be named Vice-President of the company.[4]

Vons became the official supermarket chain of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. About that time, Davila was named the company's president and C.E.O., becoming the first Mexican-American ever to be named president of a large American supermarket chain.

Davila soon led Vons' expansion into the Southern-Californian Hispanic market by opening a series of stores named Tianguis, as well as Von's Pavilion.[5]

Davila decided to retire briefly in 1990, but returned to Vons in 1992, being appointed President Emeritus of the company during that era.

In 1994, Davila was honored by the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business with their Food Industry Executive of the Year Award for that year.[6] He would later be a keynote speaker at the school's annual "legends of the industry" luncheon.[7]

Davila was a customer of Panda Express, where he met and befriended Panda Express' founder Andrew Cherng. Eventually, Cherng convinced Davila to let him open some Panda Express restaurants inside Vons stores.[8]

Davila retired for a second time from Von's in 1998.

Personal life

William and Dorothy Davila had three daughters (Diane Jones, Deborah McGuire and Lisa Franklin) and two sons (David and Bill Jr.)[9]

Death

Towards the end of his life, Davila suffered from Alzheimer's disease, which led to his death on February 14, 2014.[10]

References
  1. Colker, David (15 February 2014). "Bill Davila dies at 82; rose from sweeping floors to president of Vons". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  2. "Former Vons President Davila Passes Away". Theshelbyreport.com. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  3. "William S. Davila : April 25, 1931 – February 14, 2014". Legacy.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  4. "Desert Sun 25 August 1975 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". Cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  5. SANCHEZ, JESUS (31 August 1987). "Ex-Produce Clerk Leads Vons Toward the Latino Market : Bill Davila, With Roots in 2 Cultures, Pushes Grocery Giant Into New Age of Specialty Stores". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  6. "DDBC News" (PDF). Ddbcsocal.org. April 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  7. "Robert Hermanns to Speak at 'Legends' Event | Marshall News | USC Marshall School of Business".
  8. "How Panda Express brings Chinese food to the mall". Fortune.com. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  9. "News 101: When a story is 'news'". Dailynews.com. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  10. "Former Vons president Bill Davila dies". Supermarketnews.com. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
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