William "Bill" Harvey Stoller

He helped millions find jobs through his global staffing firm and turned his family’s former turkey farm into one of the country’s most celebrated wineries.

William H. “Bill” Stoller, a pioneering entrepreneur who co-founded one of the world’s largest staffing firms and later transformed his family’s Oregon farmland into a landmark of American winemaking, passed peacefully in his sleep on April 23 at his home in Oklahoma City. He was 74.

Bill was best known as the co-founder of Express Employment Professionals, which grew into Express Employment International under his leadership. From its start in 1983, the company expanded to more than 900 franchises across five countries, helping more than 11 million people find jobs.

For Bill, employment was about more than staffing — it was about dignity, stability, and opportunity. His belief in people’s potential shaped the culture of his companies and the legacy he leaves behind.

Born on March 19, 1951, in Salem, OR Bill was the son of Harvey Jacob Stoller and Ruth Cramer Stoller. He grew up on a turkey farm in Oregon’s Yamhill Valley, a place that fostered his deep connection to the land and influenced his strong work ethic.

He attended Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington, for two years where he played as a starting guard on the basketball team, then transferred to Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. He again earned a starting role on the men’s basketball team and graduated in 1974 with a degree in business and economics. He later received an MBA from Portland State University.

Throughout his life, Bill maintained a deep connection to his alma maters. He was inducted into the Lower Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and received an honorary Doctor of Letters from Pacific in 2022, where he also delivered the commencement address at both. He served as board chair at Pacific University and supported countless scholarships and academic initiatives. Bill often shared advice with young people considering their careers: “There is value in all work – and there is always something to learn about yourself and the world through these experiences.”

Bill’s ambitions were never confined to corporate boardrooms. Raised on a rural family turkey farm near Dayton, Oregon, he developed a deep connection to the land and the values of hard work, service, and integrity—principles that guided him throughout his life.

In 1993, he returned to his roots in Oregon’s Dundee Hills to establish Stoller Family Estate Vineyard and Winery, transforming the 373-acre property into one of the nation’s most celebrated wineries. His emphasis on sustainability and innovation led the estate to become the first LEED Gold-certified winemaking facility in the world.

Stoller Family Estate would go on to earn acclaim as a leading name in American winemaking, drawing praise for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as national recognition for its hospitality, with USA Today naming it among the top tasting rooms in the country. Bill’s larger wine portfolio, the Stoller Wine Group, later grew to include Chehalem, Chemistry, History, and Canned Oregon. His contributions to the industry earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Wine Board and the Diploma of Honor from the Fédération Internationale des Confréries Bachiques.

Bill also maintained an active role in community service and philanthropy. He served on the National Advisory Board of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and was a longtime member and past president of the Rotary Club of Portland. He supported numerous education and health programs, including ¡Salud!, which provides healthcare for seasonal vineyard workers and their families in collaboration with Pacific University.

His professional impact was widely recognized. He was inducted into the National Association of Personnel Services Hall of Fame in 2011, repeatedly named to the Staffing Industry Analysts’ Staffing 100 list, and honored with the Simon Benson Award for Alumni Achievement by Portland State University in 2013. In 2018, the Oregon Historical Society awarded him its History Makers Medal for his contributions to the state’s business and cultural life.

Outside of his professional day to day, Bill or “Papa” as his family called him, loved spending time with his wife, LaRue, his children, grandchildren and friends. An avid fan of all sports, Bill particularly enjoyed watching and attending football games at The University of Oklahoma and Oregon State University. He enjoyed playing pickup basketball with family and friends and always loved hosting and cooking for others over large holiday gatherings. On any given Saturday, you could find Bill enjoying the simple things in life such as hand washing his car, cleaning out the garage, or playing a round of golf.

Bill is survived by his wife, LaRue Allee Stoller, and their five children: Kenny and Lindsay Stoller of Newberg, OR; Kyle Stoller and Kate Wilkins of Newberg, OR; Heather and Robert Liu of Dallas, TX; Lara and Boone Ellis of Oklahoma City, OK and John and Caroline Switzer Oklahoma City, OK. He is also survived by two children from his previous marriage to Cathy Stoller, who preceded him in death: Jenny McCallum of Tualatin, Oregon and Jason and Jill Morgan of Wilsonville, OR.

Bill leaves behind his siblings: Tom and Maryanne Stoller, Nancy and Gary Owens, Larry and Susan Stoller, Gary and Julie Stoller; as well as numerous grandchildren, whom he loved dearly, extended family, and countless friends and colleagues.

A public memorial will be held in Oklahoma City at St. Luke's Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 30th, at 3:00 P.M., as well as in Oregon at Stoller Family Estate on Wednesday, May 7th, at 3:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Bill’s life was defined by vision, humility, and a deep belief in people. Whether through a job opportunity, a word of encouragement, or a shared glass of wine, he left the world better than he found it—and his legacy will continue to grow, rooted in the values he lived every day. True to his favorite phrase, he approached life with a sense of purpose and possibility that reached “to infinity and beyond.”

Arrangements are under the direction of Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors.