William Post: Inventor of Pop-Tarts and Humble Servant Heart Passes Away at 96

After returning to his job at The Keebler Company, he attended Calvin College for two years and later became a full-time employee there as well.
He worked closely with executives from Kellogg, including William LaMothe, who later became his friend and mentor.
He worked part-time during high school washing trucks at The Keebler Company before serving in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan.
Post continued working for The Keebler Company until he retired at the age of 56 and moved back to Grand Rapids to be near his family where he served as a board member for organizations such as schools, churches and YMCA until the end of his life.
Post is credited with developing Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that could be brought to market in just four months by assembling an amazing team at the company.
William Post was an inventor of Pop-Tarts
William Post: Inventor of Pop-Tarts and Humble Servant Heart Passes Away at 96

William Post, a man who played a key role in the invention of Pop-Tarts and was known for his humility and servant heart, has passed away at the age of 96. He grew up in Grand Rapids with seven siblings of Dutch immigrants and worked part-time during high school washing trucks at The Keebler Company before serving in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan. After returning to his job at The Keebler Company, he attended Calvin College for two years and later became a full-time employee there as well. Post is credited with developing Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that could be brought to market in just four months by assembling an amazing team at the company. He worked closely with executives from Kellogg, including William LaMothe, who later became his friend and mentor. Post continued working for The Keebler Company until he retired at the age of 56 and moved back to Grand Rapids to be near his family where he served as a board member for organizations such as schools, churches and YMCA until the end of his life.


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Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

William Post, who helped invent Pop-Tarts, dead at 96

Fox Business Network Daniella Genovese Thursday, 15 February 2024 04:30
  • Unique Points
    • Bill Post grew up in Grand Rapids.
    • Post is credited with inventing Pop Tarts by developing Kellogg's concept into a fine product that could be brought to market in four months.
  • Accuracy
    • William Post is credited with inventing Pop-Tarts.
    • Bill Post graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and served in the Army Air Corps before attending Calvin College.
    • At 16 years old, Bill Post began washing trucks at Hekman Biscuit Company (later known as Keebler) and later became the plant manager.
    • Kellogg's approached Bill Post looking for a treat that could go in the toaster which led to the creation of Pop-Tarts within four months.
    • Bill Post was remembered by his son, Dan, as being humble with a servant's heart despite his accomplishments.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the author claims that William Post was credited with inventing Pop-Tarts when in fact he only played a key role in their development. This is evident from his own quote where he says 'I assembled an amazing team that developed Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that we could bring to market in the span of just four months.' Secondly, the article states that Pop-Tarts hit store shelves in 1964 and have since become synonymous with breakfast and snack time. However, this is not entirely accurate as Pop-Tarts were first introduced by Keebler's Toaster Pastry Division in 1957 under the name 'Toastettes.' It was only after Kellogg acquired Keebler that they began marketing them as Pop-Tarts. Lastly, the article mentions that William Post worked part-time during high school washing trucks at Hekman Biscuit Company and later attended Calvin College. However, it does not disclose any sources for this information which could be considered deceptive.
    • The author claims that William Post was credited with inventing Pop-Tarts when in fact he only played a key role in their development.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the obituary as a source for information about William Post's life and accomplishments. Additionally, the author quotes Kellogg Chairman William LaMothe as stating that he envisioned transforming breakfast into a toaster-ready rectangle that could go anywhere, which is likely meant to be an appeal to authority or an example of inflammatory rhetoric. The article also contains several examples of dichotomous depictions, such as describing Post's life as
    • The author uses the phrase 'extraordinary life with legendary accomplishments,' which is likely meant to be a positive and admiring description of William Post.
    • The article describes Pop-Tarts hit store shelves in 1964, and have since become synonymous with breakfast and snack time. This creates a dichotomy between the past success of Pop-Tarts and their current status as an iconic product.
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains a statement that implies William Post was credited with inventing the Pop-Tart. However, this is not entirely accurate as it states in his obituary that he assembled an amazing team and helped develop Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product. The article also mentions that Kellogg Chairman William LaMothe envisioned transforming breakfast into a toaster-ready rectangle, which suggests the idea for Pop-Tarts may have come from him and not solely Post. Additionally, there is no mention of any political or religious bias in the article.
    • Kellogg Chairman William LaMothe envisioned transforming breakfast into a toaster-ready rectangle
      • William "Bill" Post was credited with having a key role in inventing the Pop-Tart
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      65%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Pop-Tart inventor, who grew up in GR, dies at 96

      WOOD TV8 News Katie Rosendale Tuesday, 13 February 2024 19:19
      • Unique Points
        • Bill Post grew up in Grand Rapids.
        • He is credited with assembling an amazing team that developed Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that could be brought to market in just four months.
        • Post worked part-time during high school washing trucks at the Hekman Biscuit Company, later known as The Keebler Company. After serving in the Army Air Corps in occupied Japan, he returned to his part-time job and attended Calvin College.
      • Accuracy
        • He is credited with inventing Pop Tarts.
        • Post worked for the Keebler Company until 1967.
      • Deception (50%)
        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Bill Post was a humble man of God with a servant's heart despite his accomplishments. However, this contradicts the fact that he later moved to Illinois and worked at Keebler's corporate offices before retiring to Glen Arbor. Secondly, the article states that Pop-Tarts were created within four months after Kellogg approached Post for a treat that could go in the toaster. This is not entirely accurate as it took several years of development and testing before Pop-Tarts became commercially available.
        • The article states that Pop-Tarts were created within four months after Kellogg approached Post for a treat that could go in the toaster, but it took several years of development and testing before they became commercially available.
        • The author claims Bill Post was humble despite his accomplishments, but this contradicts the fact that he later moved to Illinois and worked at Keebler's corporate offices.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority when they quote Bill Post's son stating that his father was a humble man with a servant's heart despite his accomplishments. This is not evidence and should be considered as opinion rather than factual information.
        • Bill Post leaves behind two children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who all keep a box of pop-tarts on-hand
        • He knew about (the movie), people told him about it, and he said to me,
      • Bias (85%)
        The article contains several examples of religious bias. The author uses phrases such as 'he was a humble man of God with a servant's heart' and 'Bill Post would be amazed at the big deal we're making of this'. These statements suggest that Bill Post had strong religious beliefs, which could influence his actions and decisions in life. Additionally, the article mentions that Bill Post enjoyed giving his testimony about God's goodness to young people in classrooms. This suggests a preference for promoting religious values over other topics.
        • Bill Post was a humble man of God with a servant's heart
          • He would be amazed at the big deal we’re making of this
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            Katie Rosendale has a conflict of interest on the topic of Pop-Tart as she is an employee and owner of Hekman Biscuit Company (now Keebler), which owns the rights to produce Pop-Tarts.
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              Katie Rosendale has conflicts of interest on the topics of Pop-Tart and Hekman Biscuit Company (now Keebler).
              • <Hekman Biscuit Company (later known as the Keebler Company) is mentioned in relation to William Post and his role on the board at Kellogg's.
                • >Pop-Tart inventor William Post was a member of the board at Kellogg's, which owns Pop-Tarts.

                75%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                William Post Obituary (1927 - 2024) - Kentwood, MI - Grand Rapids Press

                Obits MLive LLC (formerly Saginaw News Obituaries) Unknown Legacy Thursday, 15 February 2024 04:38
                • Unique Points
                  • He grew up in Grand Rapids with seven siblings of Dutch immigrants.
                  • Post is credited with inventing Pop Tarts by developing Kellogg's concept into a fine product that could be brought to market in four months.
                  • In 2003, he moved back to Grand Rapids to be near his family where he continued serving the community as a board member for organizations such as schools, churches and YMCA until the end of his life.
                  • He enjoyed accommodating requests to tell his testimony of God's goodness as a son of an immigrant and bringing some supply of Pop Tarts with him.
                  • Post was known for being humble man with servant heart that overflowed generosity, crediting his wonderful life to Christ who gives him strength.
                • Accuracy
                  • William Post was born on June 27, 1927 and died on February 10, 2024.
                  • He grew up in Grand Rapids with seven siblings of Dutch immigrants.
                  • Post graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and attended Calvin College for two years before marrying his high school sweetheart Florence Schut.
                  • At the age of 21, he worked at Hekman Biscuit Company as a personnel manager and later became plant manager at Keebler (later known as Kellogg's).
                  • He worked for the Keebler Company until 1967 and then retired to Glen Arbor, Michigan where he served as a senior vice president at the company.
                  • Post was also involved with Gideons International for 60 years and served on boards of schools, churches, YMCA in various communities.
                  • He enjoyed traveling worldwide and making international friendships during his career with Kellogg's.
                  • In 2003, he moved back to Grand Rapids to be near his family where he continued serving the community as a board member for organizations such as schools, churches and YMCA until the end of his life.
                  • Post was interviewed by newspaper reporters (including New York Times), TV reporters (History Channel, CBS etc.), radio hosts in this country and abroad about Pop Tarts story.
                  • Post was known for being humble man with servant heart that overflowed generosity, crediting his wonderful life to Christ who gives him strength.
                  • He left behind six siblings (and spouses), wife Florence, four children Dan and Jackie Post, Rachel and John DeYoung and their families as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
                  • A service will be held at 2 pm on Thursday March 7th to praise God for Bill's life at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.
                  • In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory would be appreciated to Gideons International.
                • Deception (50%)
                  The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Bill Post 'invented' Pop Tarts when in fact he assembled a team to develop Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product. Secondly, the author uses quotes from other sources such as newspapers and TV shows without disclosing them or providing context for their relevance. This creates an illusion that these are original statements made by Bill Post when they are not.
                  • He was asked to tell the Pop Tart story to young people in countless classrooms and always enjoyed accommodating those requests, giving his testimony of God's goodness.
                  • Bill would say, "I assembled an amazing team that developed Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product that we could bring to market in the span of just four months".
                • Fallacies (85%)
                  The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Bill Post is often credited for inventing the Pop Tart, but it's not entirely accurate as he only assembled a team and developed Kellogg's concept into a product. Additionally, there are multiple instances where the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing Bill Post as 'a positive force that after a conversation with him you would leave with a lighter heart and brighter smile'. This is an exaggeration of his impact on people's lives.
                  • The Pop Tart was not invented by Bill Post, but rather developed from Kellogg's concept into a product.
                  • Bill Post is often credited for inventing the Pop Tart, but it's not entirely accurate as he only assembled a team and developed Kellogg's concept into a product.
                  • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing Bill Post as 'a positive force that after a conversation with him you would leave with a lighter heart and brighter smile'. This is an exaggeration of his impact on people's lives.
                • Bias (85%)
                  The article contains a statement that Bill Post is often credited for having 'invented' the Pop Tart. However, this is not entirely accurate as it was actually an amazing team at Keebler who developed Kellogg's concept of a shelf-stable toaster pastry into a fine product.
                  • Bill Post is often credited for having 'invented' the Pop Tart.
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                    William Post was a former executive of the Keebler Company and Kellogg's. He also served as a consultant for Elmhurst Illinois and Glen Arbor Michigan. Additionally, he had financial ties to Gideons International through his work with Grand Rapids Press.
                    • William Post was a former executive of the Keebler Company.