Lake Forest resident William “Bill” L. Searle, (1928-2004,) spent
his career at G.D. Searle and Company, a company founded by his great-grandfather. Bill Searle was chairman of
the 100-year old family company when it was acquired by Monsanto Corporation in
1985. Searle graduated from the University of
Michigan then served in the Army Chemical Corps during the Korean War.

Searle married Sally Burnett in 1953. They raised three daughters in Lake Forest: Marion (“Scotty”), Elizabeth (“Betsy”), and Louise.

The couple shared interests that spanned from education to conservation and land management. Bill Searle served on the boards of the Field Museum and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and managed the 1951 Rose Bowl team. Sally Searle was active with Children’s Memorial Hospital, The Boys and Girls Club, and the Great Basin College Foundation in Nevada.

They shared a great love of the outdoors at their Maggie Creek Ranch in Elko, Nevada. With a goal of creating an example of modern ranch management, the estate of 300,000 acres, was honored with the prestigious 2015 National Environmental Stewardship Award. Also, their family owns and manages a family retreat in Cotton Bay on Eleuthera Island, The Bahamas.

In addition to numerous Chicago, Nevada, and Bahamian organizations, local recipients of the Searles' generosity and time include the History Center, Lake Forest Openlands, The Nature Conservancy, Gorton Community Center, North Shore Community Partners, The Chicago Botanic Gardens, the Wetlands Initiative, and Forest Park.