At the start of the Nigerian civil war, Willie who then found himself in Aba, formed the wildly popular band known as The Wings, and was its much acclaimed lead singer. He later graduated from military academy as an officer and was deployed to Aboh, and survived the many battles unscathed. Following the war, he enrolled at Ibadan Grammar School where he excelled at football, leading his team to win the coveted Western Academicals title. He went on to play professional football for Housing Corporation, Ibadan.

Willie trained formally as a medical doctor at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (1978). He met and married his Wife Dorothy in 1983, then went ahead to the London Hospital Medical College of the University of London where he qualified and specialised in Sports Medicine in 1986. Dr Boyd left Military Hospital in 1986 and set up a private medical practice, Ashwell & Patrick Medical Practitioners, of which he was the Chief Medical Director until January 2007. 

Him and his Wife Dorothy Founded Weight Watchers Gymnasium & Health Club which was the first public gym in Nigeria where he was an Executive Director.

Dr Boyd was the Chairman/CEO of Ashwell & Patrick Ltd, a Sports Facilities Group, a Director in Home Gyms Equipment Ltd, an international trading company for sport and fitness equipment.

Dr Boyd naturally evolved from passionate sportsman into an astute and gifted sports administrator, charting the course for independent national sports associations both in Nigeria, and further afield on the international stage. He was involved in introducing Handball and later Baseball to Nigeria. He was one of the founding members of the Nigerian Baseball and Softball Association in 1989 and the first Secretary General, the position he held for 16 years. He went on to become its President, a position he held until his death. He also became the Assistant Secretary General, and later Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), serving for eight years. This was the height of his career in public administration and sports management, which has spanned over twenty six years. Dr William Boyd was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) certified Course Conductor in Sports Administration, and was the National Coordinator for Nigeria.

His passion for sports also led him to excel in the construction of state of the art sports facilities in various areas of Nigeria including Asaba, Port Harcourt, Benin, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Damaturu and Abuja.

Until his death, Dr William Boyd was the Ojeunwala of Aboh Kingdom, in Ndokwa East of Delta State where he actively involved in striving for peace and development. He was also coordinator of the JDPC an organisation within he Catholic Church doing much to alleviate the poverty within the community.

He was a devoted family man, married to his sweetheart, Dorothy until his death and was father to Barbara, Anita, Ashley, Jennifer and Bill, and a doting grandfather to Kaima, Zina, Noah and Aaron.