Former OSCPA Board President Bill LaPlace dies at 95

Past OSCPA Executive Board President (Board Chair) William Burnell (Bill) LaPlace, 95, died Jan. 31, 2023 in Columbus.

Born Dec. 10, 1927 in Akron, Ohio, Bill loved his family, was a dedicated financial professional and spent much of his retirement years caring for those close to him and using his skills as a licensed CPA for more than 60 years to give back to the community.

LaPlace’s leadership with OSCPA made a lasting impact. His decades of active involvement included not only Society Board leadership, but also looking to the future of the profession.  He was very involved with creating OSCPA’s government relations program, including helping to establish and then leading Ohio CPA/PAC. Those two efforts alone enabled OSCPA to have the effective program that is in place today. He also used his strong belief that CPAs need to support the future of the profession by being an active advocate of the CPA Foundation. His strong affinity for OSCPA was contagious:  his son, Mark, also actively engaged with OSCPA at the highest levels, chairing OSCPA’s Board of Directors and currently chairing Ohio CPA/PAC. LaPlace was also a recipient of the Society’s Gold Medal for Meritorious Service to the Accounting Profession, OSCPA’s highest honor.

LaPlace graduated from Conneaut High School in 1944. He enrolled at The Ohio State University that fall and interrupted his studies for a total of five years serving as an officer in the Marine Corp. He graduated with a BSBA degree in Accounting in January 1951 and an MBA in December of 1953. Ohio State remained vitally important to him for the remainder of his life. He was an ardent supporter of the Fisher School of Business and spent years on Saturday afternoons cheering on his beloved Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium.

Following graduate school, LaPlace passed the CPA exam and began a lifelong career at Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte) in Cleveland, where he retired after many years as a partner.

He was very active in many other professional, civic, and social organizations. In addition to his time at OSCPA he held leadership positions with the Westwood Country Club, the Union Club, the Clevelander Club, the Fairview Park Board of Education and Rotary Club of Cleveland. LaPlace spent much of his time in retirement serving Foundations and Charitable Trusts in the Northeast Ohio area.

He was predeceased by his parents William Dallas and Vivian Byrd LaPlace as well as his wife of 56 years Catherine Cole (Kay) LaPlace. He is survived by his two sons, William D LaPlace and Mark B (Kelley) LaPlace, grandsons Jason B (Meggan) LaPlace and Todd D (Katie) LaPlace as well as five great-grandchildren.

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no calling hours. Contributions can be made to The Ohio State University Foundation referencing The William B. LaPlace Accounting Scholarship Fund #483299 P.O. Box 710811, Columbus, Ohio 43271.