GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Services were held here last week for Francis Willmes, founder of the General Merchandise Distributors Council. Willmes died at his home last week after a long battle with cancer. "This is the man whose vision created GMDC. To the day he died, he had a real passion for this business and the association he helped create to serve its needs," said Dave McConnell Jr., president and chief executive officer, GMDC, Colorado Springs, Colo. Willmes, a former vice president of general merchandise at Spartan Stores, also based here, was the first president of GMDC when it was founded in 1970. He won the association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. Willmes is survived by his wife Carol, their three children and grandchildren.
