William Mathias Scholl was born June 22, 1882. The grandson of a shoemaker, young William earned money first as an apprentice shoe repairer, then as a shoe sales clerk. He became aware of the critical need for shoes which not only fit well, but also corrected or alleviated foot pain. At the age of 18, William enrolled in the Illinois Medical College (now Loyola University). After he graduated with an MD degree in 1904, William started his own business as a manufacturer of orthopedic foot products.