Right now, it is difficult to convert the feelings of a brother's heart into meaningful words, but all I can think of how much pride we all have for brother Bill, how much I admired him, and how much love I have for him as a brother.

He really was a true American. We are all so very proud of his service as a graduate of the Naval Academy, as a member of the Strategic Air Command, and as a member of that special group of people who worked in the nation's space and B-1/B-2 programs. He was so quietly proud of his service to the country, and he earned the respect of all of us who knew of his many contributions.

His quiet pride was shared by the few special people who worked in the space program. They were a remarkable group of Americans, who enjoyed each other and remained in touch after they left the program. There was no question they admired brother Bill, and he unselfishly shared his life with them. He loved his country and he loved his colleagues.

As a brother, there were so many things I admired about my brother. He was a “star” athlete in high school, but he always had time to show others how this or that might help them to succeed. He taught me so many things – how to caulk a sailboat, how to clean a walleye, how to play this or that, and how to live life with others. I admired his talents, and his willingness to share them with others.

Most importantly, I admired the mutual love he shared with his wife, Pat. He had such a deep affection for her, and she returned that love. It was such a joy to go fishing with them (she was the better fisher-woman), or it was wonderful to break bread with them at home or in a restaurant, or it was truly a pleasure to sit on the patio with the dogs. The two of them were inseparable and I admired their mutual love and respect.

I was unable to attend the wedding of Barbie and Bill, but I shall always remember the first time I met Barbie. They came through Austin the summer after they were married, and, as I remember it, it was just about dusk when they arrived. Bill and I greeted each other with a brotherly hug, but that 5 foot bundle of energy greeted me with the biggest bear hug ever – and I had just met her! What a pair.

As a brother, I shall always cherish the love that only two brothers can have. He was always there – my big and smartest brother. Always open, always honest, always helpful. I shall miss the almost weekly talks about the Cubbies, the college football or Denver Bronco games, the Duke basketball program or life in general.

A true American, one admired by many, and one truly loved by his brother.

Jim Todd

     Bill became my father-in-law in 1980, the year Diana and I married.  Just a few short months prior he and Tricia had tied the knot.  So I have no memories of times prior to 1980 and very much hope that you will fill in those chapters with your contributions to this site.  However, I have come to know Billy so well and love him so much in the last 34 years.  He has never been anything but kind and never been less than generous.  He has always treated my wife as a daughter.  My children, now adult, love him dearly as their Grandpa.
     The pages of this chapter could be divided into the places Billy and Tricia lived during their marriage: Huntington Beach, Fontana, Callville Bay, Boulder City, plus Lake Granby.  For our part, we have always lived in or near Orange Co., CA.  As such we visited them often during their Huntington Beach days.  That's when our daughter, Kira, learned to do the sock dance for Grandpa and crumple up his napkin at dinner, a tradition that was continued at her wedding.
     When they moved to Fontana my family was living there as well, giving us the chance to grow even closer.  Christmases, birthdays, family celebrations, Easters, long weekends, BBQs.  Bill was always the perfect host or a wonderful guest.  By now the man who became part of my life because of two marriages, had become a second father to my wife and a the fun-loving Granpa to my kids.      So, when he retired from Northrop, we thought it a sad day when they decided to move far away to Callville Bay in Nevada.  But that move was certainly a blessing is disguise.  This gave my family the excuse to spend days at a time with Bill and Tricia, as well as all several other cousins, becoming some of the fondest memories for all of us.  And looming over each fun Memorial weekend was the Grandpa figure Billy, laughing, playing, fishing, boating, teasing and always with that wonderfully genuine smile and those twinkling blue eyes.
     The move to Boulder City may have signified the end of the party in Callville, but we all continued to intertwine our lives and love with each other as they would stay with us in Yorba Linda a week at a time, we in Boulder for long weekends, and Diana at the cabin each summer (I found the time to go there from time to time too).  
     Those twinkling blue eyes may be enjoying a well deserved rest,  but I cannot imagine that I could have been blessed with a finer man to be my father-in-law, my second dad.