David V. Wise of Butler, the founder and former president of Wise Business Forms, died Thursday.

He was 74 years old. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon L. Wise Sr. of Butler.

Wise is survived by his wife Karen Patterson Wise, who he married on Sept. 6 1986.

Wise bought the Eagle Printery in 1965 and started Wise Business Forms in Butler in 1969 after working at Harmony Drilling Co., Anderson Gas Co. and Hardwood Corp.

For many years, Wise was treasurer of the Eagle Printing Co., which publishes the Butler Eagle.

Wise Business Forms grew from a small family business to become a $65 million corporation today with five printing plants in Butler; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Atlanta; Greenville, S.C., and Portland, Maine.

Wise Business Forms employs 680 people and markets to 2,300 distributors in the eastern United States.

Mr. Wise stepped down as president in 1993, when he turned over the company to his nephews, William and Jeffrey Prettyman. William Prettyman is president and CEO and Jeffrey Prettyman is executive vice president.

Mr. Wise was active with the National Business Forms Association, and the International Business Forms Association and was recognized as a certified forms consultant.

In 1993, he was honored as the Forms Pro of the Year by Business Forms, Label and Systems.

In 1994 he received the distinguished President's Award for his work with the association. This award is given to a person who makes a significant contribution to the printing industry.

Wise graduated from Allegheny College in 1953 with a degree in economics, and he continued to be a vital part of the school's development.

In 1996, Wise and his wife made a major contribution to the school's new David V. Wise Sport and Fitness Center.

He also had served on the Allegheny College Board of Trustees.

He served in the U.S. Army in Europe from 1953 to 1955.

He was a member of the Nixon United Methodist Church and the Glade Run United Presbyterian Church. He also was a member of the Butler Country Club and the Der Sitzmark Ski Club.

He is survived by his brother, Vernon L. Wise Jr. of Butler, and his sister, Virginia Wise Prettyman of Atlanta, Ga.

Wise also is survived by his two nieces, Jamie Wise Lanier and Mary Lou McIllwraith of Cincinnati, Ohio, and three nephews, Vernon L. Wise III of Butler, and William and Jeffrey Prettyman, both of Atlanta, Ga.; in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Patterson of Butler, and a brother-in-law, Alan C. Patterson of Pittsburgh.