OAN’s James Meyers
8:50 AM – Wednesday, February 14, 2024
William “Bill” Post, the man who created one of the greatest breakfast treats in Pop-Tarts, died last week, his family announced. He was 96-years-old at the time of his passing.
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Post worked as the plant manager for the Michigan-based Hekman Biscuit Company, which became known later as Keebler Company.
Post is credited with inventing Pop-Tarts, but he would always say it was a team effort, according to his obituary.
He began his career as a part-time worker in high school washing trucks at Hekman. He served in the Army Air Corps in Japan during World War II and then returned to the company working his way up the company.
Five years later, Post was given the full-time role of personnel manager “but assisted with sales, production, or anything else that he could learn,” his loved ones wrote in his obituary.
20 years later when Post became the plant manager of Hekman, he brought in executives from Kellogg’s who asked Hekman/Keebler to make a new product they had in mind.
The product would become known as the famous Pop-Tart, which is now available in almost every grocery store and supermarket in America today.
Post was always known for saying the creation of the Pop-Tart was always a team effort.
“Bill would say, ‘I assembled an amazing team that developed Kellogg’s concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that we could bring to market in the span of just four months,’” his death notice states.
Additionally, the great inventor shared the story of the Pop-Tart with younger generations, in hopes to inspire them.
“Over the years, Bill has been interviewed by newspaper reporters (including the New York Times), TV reporters (History Channel, CBS, etc.), and by radio hosts in this country and abroad,” his obituary says. “He was asked to tell the Pop Tart story to young people in countless classrooms and always enjoyed accommodating those requests, giving his testimony of God’s goodness to ‘the son of an immigrant,’ and bringing some of his unending supply of Pop Tarts with him.”
Post was also known as a man who credited God for all his success throughout his life and served in local communities.
“In spite of an extraordinary life and legendary accomplishments, Bill remained a humble man of God with a servant’s heart that seemed to overflow with generosity… He was the first to bring comfort, read scripture and offer a prayer with any friend or family member in need. He continued to fill that role to the very end of his life and leaves a big void in a very large circle of treasured friends,” his loved ones shared.
Post’s wife of 72 years, Florence, died in 2020 who was his “best friend.”
He also leaves behind his two children and their spouses as well as multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“He was such a positive force that after a conversation with Bill, you would leave with a lighter heart and a brighter smile,” his loved ones wrote.
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