A former two sport athlete at Lower Columbia College who went on to incredible success in the business world has passed away at the age of 74.

Bill Stoller, who played basketball and baseball at Lower Columbia College in 1970 and 1971, died unexpectedly in his sleep overnight on Thursday.

Stoller appreciated his time at LCC. The Fitness Center on campus is named for him after he made a $2 million dollar donation for facilities and scholarships.

Stoller continued his college basketball career at Pacific University in Forest Grove where the gymnasium on that campus is also named for him.

Stoller started his career at a small staffing company in the US, learning the ropes of the recruitment business as he climbed the ladder in the industry. 

Bill became the CEO of the Oklahoma-based Express Employment Professionals, which he co-founded in 1983.

Express Employment Professionals has an international reach through its network of local franchises, including one in Longview, that has helped more than nine million people find work since its inception.

Stoller is also the founder and proprietor of Oregon's Stoller Family Estate. Bill recently was the recipient of a prestigious international award for his contributions to the wine industry.

Stoller's support of LCC has been impactful.

"Bill really appreciated his time at LCC and he proved it with an incredible donation to support scholarships and facilities", said LCC Athletic Director Kirc Roland.

"Bill came back to campus in 2016 and told great stories of his time in Longview and shared how much being a Red Devil shaped his incredible life.  The Stoller Athletic Center here at LCC will keep his memory alive. We can't thank Bill and his wife LaRue enough for what they did for our program.  Our hearts go out to LaRue and the entire Stoller family", said Roland.

Stoller was inducted into the LCC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.