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William
Farley is the sole shareholder of Liam Ventures, Inc., a private
equity firm with investments in various industries including
biotech, communications, and basic industries. He served as
chairman and chief executive officer of Fruit of the Loom, Inc.
from the time he acquired the company in 1986 through December
1999. During that time, he built FTL from a primarily domestic
$500 million underwear company into a leading international manufacturer
and marketer of basic family apparel with sales approximating
$2.3 billion for the 1999 fiscal year. Fruit of the Loom was
sold to Berkshire Hathaway Co. in 2002 for approximately $1 Billion.
William Farley was born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College
in Maine, and a Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law
School. More recently, Mr. Farley received an honorary degree
of Doctor of Laws from his alma mater Bowdoin College.
In addition to his business activities, Mr. Farley is a member
of the World Presidents' Organization, The Chicago Club, and
The Executives' Club of Chicago. He sits on various educational,
corporate, civic and cultural boards, including: The Horatio
Alger Association, The Big Shoulders Fund, The Rush Hospital
Heart Institute, TV3 Russia, and Adamant Media Corporation.
Mr. Farley has received the Ireland-U.S. Council for Commerce
and Industry's Annual Outstanding Achievement Award for his
efforts to improve economic, business and commercial links
between Ireland and the United States. Other honors include:
the Apparel Industry Board, Inc.'s Special Award, the Horatio
Alger Award for Distinguished Americans, the American Academy
of Achievement's Golden Plate Award, the National Women's Political
Caucus' Good Guys Award and the White House's Presidential
Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Mr. Farley has also previously
served as Chairman of the Illinois Ambassadors and the Executive
Club of Chicago.
Mr. Farley resides in Chicago with his wife, Shelley, and their sons
Hayes, Scott and Liam. His interests include education, reading, politics,
travel, golf, tennis, health, and nutrition. |