William “Bill”Kress, a longtime executive with IBM who at one time served as the company’s top executive in North Carolina and a former CEO at MCNC, has died. He was 75.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Avenue, in Raleigh.
According to an obituary published by the funeral home, Mr. Kress died after a long illness on Feb. 20.
- Triangle legacy: Colleagues salute Bil Kress.
Mr. Kress joined IBM after graduating from Penn State University with a bachelor of science degree in 1960. He transferred to IBM’s Triangle operation in 1965.
By the time he retired in 1996, Mr. Kress was Site General Manager and also Senior State Executive as well as vice president of manufacturing.
Mr. Kress came out of retirement to become chief executive officer at MCNC, or the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, in 1998. He retired from that post in 2001.
In 1997, Mr. Kress was chair of the Triangle United Way Campaign.
He is survived by his wife Bonnie, a daughter and a son.
Mr. Kress was born June 10, 1938, in Reading, Pa.
His full obituary can be read online.
