After his 1943 graduation from Central, William Kizer attended Iowa Sate University and Creighton University, and went on to serve in the Naval Air Corps during WWII. In 1977, Mr. Kizer established Central States Indemnity Company of Omaha and is now its chairman. In1982, he established the Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM), an organization that encourages businesses to support healthy workplace programs and practices for their employees. In 1986, Mr. Kizer established Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA), an Omaha-based organization that has fostered healthy workplace initiatives for businesses nationwide. His book, The Healthy Workplace: A Blueprint for Corporate Action, explores the need for and benefits of employee wellness programs in corporations large and small. In recognition of his efforts, Mr. Kizer was recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and in 1985 he was named Omaha Health Citizen of the Year. In 2001, Mr. Kizer received both the Omaha Medical Society’s Community Service Award and the Nebraska Medical Association’s Friend of Medicine Award. Creighton University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have conferred honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees on Mr. Kizer.
William passed away in 2017 at the age of 92.