William Scholl
| William M. Scholl | |
|---|---|
| Born |
William Mathias Scholl June 22, 1882 La Porte, Indiana |
| Died | March 29, 1968 (aged 85) Chicago, Illinois |
| Resting place | Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte |
| Alma mater | Chicago Medical School (M.D., 1922) |
| Occupation | Medical Doctor |
| Known for | founding Dr. Scholl's footwear |
William M. Scholl (June 22, 1882 – March 30, 1968) was a pioneer of foot care and the founder of Dr. Scholl's, a brand of foot care products.
William Mathias Scholl was born in La Porte, Indiana as one of 13 children. He studied medicine at Loyola University Chicago. During his studies, while working in a shoe store in the evenings, he became interested in podiatry. In 1904 he invented and patented an arch support and founded the company Dr. Scholl's to sell it. He was joined by his brother Frank who directed the company's overseas business, establishing Scholl Manufacturing Company, Ltd. in London in 1910.
He graduated from the Chicago Medical School in 1922. He went on to develop more than 1,000 foot aids. These included a silver clip designed in 1946 to treat ingrown toenails. While too soft to have much of a corrective effect and difficult to apply, it inspired later steel clip designs.
Scholl practiced medicine in Chicago from 1905 until 1946 while also directing his company. He continued to serve as the company's President and chief executive officer until March 1968, when he was elected Chairman of the Board. He worked in that capacity until his death.
He left the bulk of his estate to the Dr. Scholl Foundation which he had established in 1947.
Scholl never married. His brother Frank, who had helped set up the original company, had sons who were doctors and were involved in the company and foot care.
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