William D. McIntyre was born November 16, 1897, in New York City to Irish immigrant parents. He graduated from West High School in Minneapolis in 1917 and received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1923. He served with the Rainbow Division 101st Field Artillery during World War I. McIntyre married Laurene L. Lattel in 1930. They had two children: William D. McIntyre Jr. and Katherine McIntyre.

McIntyre began his career as a salesman. He worked as an officer of a Minneapolis baking company for three years before settling in Eau Claire in 1930 as a sales manager for a baking company. In 1935, he founded and assumed the office of President of the Tender Krust Baking Company. He owned and operated Tender Krust until he sold the business to Bake-Rite of Stevens Point in 1972. McIntyre also contributed to the development of the American Bakers Cooperative, the Morris Plan Loan Company, and Leaseamerica Corporation.

McIntyre was active in local, state, and national politics. He was a member of the Eau Claire City Council for four years, was appointed a Wisconsin delegate to the Republican Conventions of 1948, 1952, and 1956, and served as President of the 9th District GOP. In 1945, he was invited to serve on the Board of Regents of State Normal Schools, and held the office of President of the Board of Regents of State Colleges from ca. 1950-1963. Under his tenure, student enrollment at Wisconsin state colleges rose from 6,000 to 60,000. The University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire honored McIntyre by giving its library his name in 1963.

McIntyre also participated in many local and national organizations, including the First Congregational Church of Eau Claire, Eau Claire Country Club, Minneapolis Athletic Club, Eau Claire Masonic Lodge 112, Eau Claire Commandery No. 8, Elks Club, Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He passed away on April 10, 1973.

As of 2022, through the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation, a scholarship is named in McIntyre’s honor, the William D. and Laurene L. McIntyre Scholarship. A number of scholarships up to $1,000 are available to an outstanding UW-Eau Claire junior or senior who has demonstrated a passion for their major field of study and a commitment to graduate. The primary consideration for recipients will be students who find themselves in such hardship that it may impede their successful academic progress and plans to graduate. Financial need is also a major consideration. The McIntyre family's connection to UW-Eau Claire extends since the university's earliest days. William D. McIntyre, who was known as "Mr. Higher Education in Wisconsin," was an Eau Claire businessman and civic leader.