Bill was born in California and grew up in North Dakota. He joined the Navy in 1967, boot camping in San Diego and then went to NAS Memphis for tech training as an aviation metalsmith (AMS).  After school he was assigned to a RAG (Replacement Air Group) squadron (VAH-123) at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, working as a plane captain on the A3 type aircraft. The squadron closed its doors in early 1971 and Bill moved to an A6 Squadron (VA-196) as a maintenance mechanic. The squadron deployed to Vietnam on the USS Enterprise and Bill remained aboard until late in the year and then departed for separation (EOS). He was hired by an aerospace company as a mechanic and sent to the ANG Base in Boise, Idaho. In 1973 he was invited to join the IdANG as a fulltime technician, first working on F-102 and later F-4, T-33, C131, C-130 and A-10 aircraft. Bill remained with the Air Guard in various maintenance assignments, most of those years as a (NDT) Non-Destructive Tester and eventually as a maintenance supervisor. Bill deployed with the unit on many stateside and overseas deployments. His last overseas deployments were for Desert Storm (Saudi Arabia) and Provide Comfort (Turkey). He retired as an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant after ~ 32 years (1998).

After retiring, Bill worked on small aircraft component repair and as an NDT inspector in the private sector, retiring in 2004.

 Bill became the Association Historian in 1997 while attending his first Enterprise Association in Reno, Nv. and has remained at the post ever since. He has been married to Linda since 1971. They have been able to travel and are active in church and community activities along with active support of the National MS Society.