Bill is a retired District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  He has received International
recognition for  research done in the field of subsurface drainage.   He has been a resident of St. Helens since 1980, and has lived in the area since 1964.  He served in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army.  He retired as a First Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve after 28 years of service. He has been married to his wife, Claudia, for over  40 years.  They have two children,  Lynnea and Tim.  He has attended Santa Monica College, UCLA,  & Portland State.  He Graduated from the Clatsop College Forest Technology program.  He is a graduate of Oregon State University and holds a degree in General Agriculture.

Bill is the past chair of the St. Helens Parks Commission.  He served on this commission for 7 years. His appointment expired in December 2000.  He is presently the Chair of the Columbia County Parks Commission.   Bill has served on the Wilkerson Forest Advisory Committee,  and has been Chair of the Columbia County Surface mining Advisory Committee.  He presently is an elected  Director of the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District , and serves as Secretary. Bill was appointed by the County to serve on the Columbia County Cultural Coalition.  Bill is the SWCD Liaison to the North West Resource Conservation and development organization and sits on their board of directors.  He is also the North Coast Basin Volunteer Coordinator.  He is a member of the Friends of Fox Creek group.  He is presently the Secretary and is a Past President  of the Kiwanis Club of St. Helens and a Past Kiwanis Division 42 Lieutenant Governor, He is presently Chair of the Division Lt. Governors association, and on the Kiwanis Club of St. Helens Board of Directors.   He also serves on the board of Directors for the  Kiwanis Doernbecher Children's Cancer program.  He also serves on the City of St. Helens Budget Committee,  and is an elected Democratic Precinct Person.    He is a Presbyterian Elder and is active in his church.  Bill also writes a column on local issues for the Mt. St. Helens Bugler in Longview Washington.