The world has lost a true hero with the passing of William Post, the inventor of Pop Tarts, at the age of 96.
Post, who hailed from Michigan, began his career with Hekman at the age of 16, and after serving in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan, he returned to the company.
By the time he was 21, he was working as a personnel manager within the company.
Eventually, he climbed the ranks to plant manager and invented the iconic breakfast snack in 1964. After the success of Pop-Tarts, Post continued to work in Keebler’s corporate offices before retiring at the age of 56.
Who was William Post and when did he invent Pop Tarts?
Post, known to his family and friends as Bill, continued to work as a consultant for Kellogg’s for 20 years after his retirement, which took him around the world for his work. He will be missed immensely by his children, Dan and Jackie Post, and Rachel and John DeYoung.
“The lights of his life were his adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren who visited him so often,” his family said.
Post can be credited with the creation of Pop Tarts, which are found in almost every US supermarket and boast an annual sales of around $1 billion in the US alone.
His exact net worth is unknown, but his success allowed him to be generous with his earnings, donating to various causes.
He also set up the William and Dorothy Post Endowed Scholarship at Michigan State University, aiming to support students pursuing qualifications in food science and nutrition. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
