William (Bill) Owens Bradley, 81, died April 1 due to complications from a stroke.

He attended the University of Colorado and the University of Minnesota before serving in the Coast Guard Reserve.

Bradley and his father, Leon Bradley, expanded Sheffield Incorporated into a multi-million dollar enterprise. In 1985, as chairman of Sheffield Inc., he negotiated the acquisition of the Kansas City-based fastener division of Armco Steel Corporation – then the 2nd largest facility in the world, with 300 machines in six buildings.

Subsequently he completed a joint venture agreement with CITIC (Chinese International Trust & Investment Corp) and the government of China to relocate the facility. At the time, it was one of the largest joint ventures China had taken with the free world.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Susan.