William Cook (entrepreneur)
William Alfred Cook | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 January 1931 Mattoon, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | 15 April 2011 (aged 80) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder of Cook Group, historic preservation advocate |
William Alfred Cook (January 27, 1931 – April 15, 2011) was a prominent American businessman, philanthropist, and advocate for historic preservation. Alongside his wife, Gayle Cook, he established the medical equipment company Cook Group in 1963. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, Cook was recognized as one of the wealthiest figures in the United States.
Biography
Born in Mattoon, Illinois and raised in Canton, Illinois, Cook demonstrated athletic talent in football, basketball, and track during his youth. He pursued a biology degree at Northwestern University, where he joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and graduated in 1953. Although initially intending to enter medical school, his plans changed when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving two years as a surgical technician.
In 1957, he married Gayle Karch; their son Carl, born in 1962, eventually took on an executive role within Cook Group. The family moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 1963 and started the company from their apartment. Bill Cook was honored with several honorary degrees from institutions such as Northwestern University, Indiana University, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in recognition of his impactful contributions.
Cook Group
Established in 1963 by Bill and Gayle Cook in Bloomington, Indiana, Cook Group initially focused on manufacturing medical devices like guidewires used in catheter angiography. Partnering with leaders in Interventional Radiology including Dr. Charles Dotter, the company expanded to become the largest family-owned manufacturer of medical devices worldwide. Notable innovations include the Spectrum antibiotic-impregnated catheter (Rifampin/Minocycline), the Gianturco-Roubin coronary stent—the first coronary stent approved by U.S. authorities—the Supra-G paclitaxel-coated drug-eluting stent tested across Asia, and the V-Flex stent evaluated in Europe.
Historic preservation
In addition to their medical ventures, Bill and Gayle Cook invested strategically in historic preservation projects. The Cook Group played a leading role in revitalizing downtown Bloomington, Indiana, marked by the 1988 inauguration of Fountain Square Mall. Their significant restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel alongside Indiana Landmarks paved the way for developing the French Lick Resort Casino located in Orange County, Indiana. In 2007, Indiana Landmarks introduced the "Cook Cup" award to honor exceptional achievements in historic preservation. That same year, the Cooks supported the restoration of Beck's Mill in Salem, Indiana. In 2010, they committed $7 million toward converting Indianapolis’s former Central Avenue Methodist Church into a performance venue and headquarters for Indiana Landmarks Center. Beginning in 2009, Bill Cook expanded development initiatives in Canton, Illinois by constructing factories and a hotel aimed at boosting local economic growth.
Star of Indiana and Blast!
In 1985, Bill Cook launched the drum & bugle corps Star of Indiana by investing $1 million as initial funding and actively participating in its operations—including personally driving tour buses across North America. Unlike traditional corps organizations, Star of Indiana functioned as a commercial enterprise and served as a model for other competitive drum corps ventures. The group consistently qualified for DCI finals and secured the Drum Corps International Division I World Championship title in 1991 while maintaining top-three placements from 1990 onward. After concluding competition participation post-1993, Cook transformed the ensemble into Brass Theater for touring performances, culminating with Blast! premiering at London’s Apollo Theatre. The production debuted stateside in 2000 before moving to Broadway in 2001 where it received the Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event as well as an Emmy Award recognizing Best Choreography that same year.
Indiana University
Although Bill Cook graduated from Northwestern, he established significant connections with Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington. Both he and his wife Gayle were prominent benefactors of IU's Jacobs School of Music, with the William and Gayle Cook Music Library named in their honor. In 1996, they contributed $1 million to create the Martha Lea and Bill Armstrong Teacher Educators program, which supports the professional growth of Indiana public school teachers through partnerships with IU faculty members. The Kelley School of Business at IU recognized the Cooks in 2010 by awarding them the William L. Haeberle Entrepreneurial Legacy Award for their notable entrepreneurial achievements. The Cook Group also donated $15 million to IU Athletics, facilitating enhancements to the basketball development center now known as Cook Hall. Altogether, the Cooks' philanthropic efforts exceeded $45 million across multiple university projects, and Bill Cook served as a trustee for IU from 1995 until 1998.
Wealth
Bill Cook was regarded as Indiana's wealthiest person, with an estimated net worth near $5 billion in 2008 according to the Forbes 400. By September 2010, he was ranked number 101 on Forbes' list of richest Americans, holding an approximate fortune of $3.1 billion.