In 1959, a few years after earning his bachelor's degree in business administration at OSU, Bill Knodell joined Western Kraft Corporation as controller and was later promoted to treasurer and financial vice president. In 1971 he became financial vice president, secretary, and treasurer of the parent corporation, Willamette Industries, Inc. He retired in 1989 but remained on the Willamette Industries board of directors until 1999. In addition to service on the College of Science Materials Research Advisory Board, he served on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees from 1977 to 2005, including terms as both president and chair, and served on the Legacy Health Systems board for 28 years. Bill and his wife, Donna, are members of OSU's August Leroy Strand Society and live in Portland. Their children are Steven Knodell, Brad Knodell '79, '89, Kathy Knodell Thomas '82, and Susan Humphrey.