Bill Drew: 'Power broker with a heart of gold' helped lead Milwaukee's renaissance

William Ryan Drew, who for decades was a powerful backstage player in Milwaukee politics and development, died Thursday after a lengthy illness.

He was 83.

"I would describe him as a power broker with a heart of gold," said Tom Cannon, Drew's law partner and brother-in-law.

From the redevelopment of the Menomonee Valley to the construction of the Grand Avenue Mall, Drew at one time had a hand in almost every major project in the city.

He was a City of Milwaukee alderman in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was Common Council president from 1972-74 and under Mayor Henry Maier, was commissioner of city development from 1974-88.

Later, he served on the boards of Summerfest and State Fair Park.

"Bill Drew was the type of guy who had a vision for the city of Milwaukee and he had a vision when he worked for me for State Fair Park," said former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Thompson said that Drew "was a fantastic manager" and "an individual that didn't like people standing around."

"He wanted production," Thompson said. "That's what I loved about him."

Thompson, a Republican, and Drew, a Democrat, were close friends who bonded over a shared purpose to improve Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin.

"He was always an individual you could count on getting a job done and doing it right," Thompson said.

Drew was born May 3, 1936, and raised in Waukon, Iowa. He attended Marquette University, where he graduated with a liberal arts degree in 1958. He received his law degree from Marquette in 1966.

"He came to Milwaukee literally not knowing anyone as a freshman at Marquette University and over the course of time he was at the center of political life in the city, county, state and national level," Cannon said. "It's an extraordinary scope of life that he established."

Before running for office, Drew served as legal counsel to then-U.S. Sen. William Proxmire and administrative assistant to then-Gov. Patrick J. Lucey

He was elected Common Council president in 1972. At the time, the Milwaukee Journal described Drew as "neither a backslapper nor a gladhander in the old political tradition."

"His voice is quiet, and so is his type of humor. He appears to be the kind of man who is more comfortable in the background, planning the strategies of others," the Journal said.

Drew played those background roles through much of his career. He was treasurer of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and was longtime executive director of the Milwaukee County Research Park.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Drew "exemplified what it meant to be a civic leader. He was a champion for this city and for the county."

Barrett added: "What I remember most about Bill was that he got things done. He was a powerful attorney who put his plans into action. During his time at the city, downtown Milwaukee saw remarkable growth. Due to Bill’s vision, major projects such as the Grand Avenue, Summerfest and Schlitz Park were made possible. These spaces are vital in our community and I cannot picture a Milwaukee without them."

Survivors include Drew's wife, Mary C. Cannon, his brother Jim and sister Marueen Vassallo, and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass to celebrate Drew's life will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 2 at Old St. Mary's Church in Milwaukee. A private burial will be held in Iowa.