University community mourns death of business professor emeritus Bill Beedles

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas community is grieving the death of Bill Beedles, professor emeritus of finance from the School of Business. Beedles died Sept. 24. He was 70.

“I am saddened to learn of the death of Professor Beedles, who inspired countless business students during his 40 years of dedicated service to KU,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “On behalf of the entire university, I express my deepest condolences to his family, students and all who knew him at KU.”

In 1978, Beedles joined KU, where his academic interest was in managerial finance as well as in finance for nonfinancial managers. After years spent on academic research, Beedles shifted his focus to applications of financial economics to solve current business problems. 

In his bio on the School of Business website, he explained how this led him to work with adult learners through the executive education initiatives and consulting engagements. He added that these experiences led him to a focus on enriching the experiences of undergraduate students in the classroom and as they transitioned to the world of work. 

“Bill Beedles was a gracious colleague, mentor and friend to many in the KU School of Business,” said L. Paige Fields, dean. “He had a remarkable ability to connect with students, and his contributions to the school and to the lives of his students were tremendous. We will miss him greatly.”

In conjunction with his retirement, a LaunchKU project to honor his legacy in the School of Business recently raised $58,900 to support first-generation college students in the school. Following Beedles’ death, his family has designated the scholarship fund as a place for memorial contributions.

A celebration of life will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Carnegie Building, 200 W. Ninth St.

Read memories of Beedles from colleagues and student on the School of Business blog.