William F. "Bill" Scandling (June 17, 1922 – August 22, 2005) was an American businessman and philanthropist who was one of the founders of Saga Corporation, a multi-billion dollar food service and restaurant company.
He also funded the redevelopment of the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester which was renamed to honor his wife in 1993.
He was called to military service in July 1942 and served in the Pacific theater for the Army Air Forces during World War II.
In his military service, he eventually rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant working for the Army Airways Communication System.
In 1948 Scandling, along with fellow veteran-classmates Harry W. Anderson and W. P. Laughlin, took over operation of the Hobart dining hall which had been nearing bankruptcy.
After learning that Geneva was built on an old Native American village called Kanadasaga, it was decided that Saga Corporation would be a fitting name for the new company.
By 1970, Saga was serving meals to hospitals and retirement communities in addition to college cafeterias and was also operating its first two restaurant chains Black Angus[6] and the Velvet Turtle.
At its height Saga ran food service contracts for more than 400 universities, colleges, hospitals, and retirement homes.
[9] Writing in the Winter 1997 issue of the Pultney Street Survey alumni and alumnae magazine for Hobart and William Smith Colleges Dana Cooke wrote about Saga corporation that "In the 39 years it existed, the company changed the face of college food service nationwide, introducing contracting and service concepts to the industry.
[12] In 1998 Saga Corporation founders Scandling, Anderson, and Laughlin were awarded the Medal of Excellence from the Hobart Alumni Association.