He was born in Philadelphia, Pa. He received a degree in chemical engineering from Fenn College (now Cleveland State University) in 1940. He began a career in publishing in 1944 when he went to work as engineering editor for National Petroleum Publishing Co., which published National Petroleum News, Petroleum Processing, Platt's Oilgram News Service and Platt's Oilgram Price Report.

He was chief editor of Petroleum Processing magazine with McGraw-Hill as well as assistant to the publisher of McGraw-Hill's petroleum publications, and personnel management advisor for the Publications Division from 1953 to 1963.

He founded the William F. Bland Co. in 1963 and started the PetroChemical News report that same year. He resigned as chairman and president of the company in 1996, but continued as an active chairman until his death.

He was a member of University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill.

A memorial service will be held in the Assembly Hall of the Carol Woods Retirement Community in Chapel Hill on Monday, June 2, at 3 p.m.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Grady Bland; three daughters, Susan Bland Kensil of Durham, Mary Ellen "Mollie" Bland Sandor of Durham and Elizabeth Bland Lockwood of Clarksville, Tenn.; a son, David Bland of Southport; six grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of choice.