Wills Closes In Little Rock

Loss Of Late Owner Ends 42-Year Family Business
DALLAS–One month after owner Ed “Watty” Wills’ apparent suicide, the Frank J. Wills Co. in Little Rock, Ark., is closing its doors after 42 years.
The trustee for Wills’ estate, Little Rock attorney Jim Penick, confirmed that the family-owned shop will be shut down following a sell-off of company assets over the next 30 days. The decision eliminates the jobs of 35 employees, although a third have already found new employment, according to agency official Bill Paschall.
Penick said the shop was closed after an evaluation of assets and debt structure, but the main reason was the loss of Wills, whom colleagues said spent as much as 14 hours a day at the advertising agency founded by his late father.
“It was a significant blow to lose the hands-on guy, and based on the overall financial picture, the prudent thing was to wind it down and...