By MELISSA ANDERS
December 11, 2011
MASON - The man who built a metal manufacturer into a company famous for its foam cups has died.
William A. Dart, co-founder and chairman of Dart Container Corp., died Dec. 2 in Sarasota, Fla. He was 84.
Dart's cousin, Rollin Dart, described him as extremely intelligent and inventive.
"I see most of his legacy to be his wonderful, incisive mind and his hard work ... and all that Dart Container Corporation has grown into and all they've been able to do for all the communities that they serve," said Rollin Dart, chairman emeritus and community relations officer at Mason-based Dart Bank.
William Dart, known as "W. A.", was born April 13, 1927, in Mason.
He served as a radar technician in the U.S. Navy during World War II, then went on to graduate from the University of Michigan with degrees in mathematics, metallurgy and chemical engineering.
Dart worked for chemical company DuPont for about a year before returning to Mason.
In 1951, Dart went into business with his father, William F. Dart, in manufacturing metal products.
The Darts eventually switched their focus to foam cups and shipped their first order in 1960.
That proved to be a wise business move. Dart's sons, Ken and Bob, now run a company that has grown to be one of the world's leading producers of foam cups, takeout containers, plastic silverware and other products.
As of May 2010, the company employed about 7,500 people on four continents, including about 1,100 in Mason and Holt.
Dart Container is privately owned and doesn't release financial data but several publications have pegged its revenue at more than $1 billion.
But the Dart legacy goes beyond business acumen. W. A. Dart and his wife, Claire, established the Dart Foundation in 1984 to provide grants for youth education, health community services and journalism programs.
It gave out $3.6 million in grants in fiscal year 2010.
The Dart family has supported the local community throughout the years, said Doug Klein, executive director of the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce.
"(Dart) encouraged the involvement of his employees in our community," Klein said. "I think that's a great legacy to leave to our community."
Dart is survived by his wife, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
Information about funeral services were not available at press time for the Ingham County Community News.
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