This really hits hard. I haven't flown in a while, taking a break... then Covid...then this. You couldn't ask for a nicer guy to fly with. Bill mentored me right up to giving the Nat's a shot. He put up with a lot of stupid questions and never told me to buzz off, and he was never afraid to just say "I don't know", which meant he never sent you down rabbit holes. I never saw anyone who liked to practice so much as Bill (except maybe Steve Fitton...), he doggedly pursued that perfect pattern. We would joke and cut up a lot, and he would laugh about his stunt callous from his Kaz handle that would inevitably form on his palm during all the practice right before the Nat's. This is a big loss for our club and to CL in general. Best wishes & sympathy to Shirley and the Rich family, he will be sorely missed.

This news is like getting hit with a hammer today.  How terrible.
I met Bill around a decade ago when I returned to the Nats venue.  He wandered up while I was getting ready to put up a practice flight on the L pad.  He said "I'm Bill Rich-PAMPA president".  He jumped in to launch my airplane.  He asked where he could squeeze the airplane.  I told him anywhere he wanted to just like his girlfriend-just gently,  and we were fast friends since.  Two years ago he returned to the Nats , and made the Top 20.  I returned the greet "I'm Dave Trible-PAMPA president".  We had a belly laugh.  Bill taught me what it takes to make the grade in this event and that is to practice relentlessly.  You are at the field early and usually the last to leave.  I'll miss my buddy Bill.  Our sport will miss Bill.

Dave

So sorry to hear. Bill was a great guy.
My favorite memory of Bill is back 30 or so years. He was working his way up the stunt ladder and had finally made the top 20. Now, he really liked cobbler, and he would sneak out every day in the middle of competition to get some cobbler.
Well, when he made the top 20  he discovered that he couldn't leave the field at his regular time because he had to be there for both flights. So what did he do??

He brought a whole tin of cobbler to the field and ate it when he wanted. He shared some of it with his friends also, so nothing would go to waste! 

The ever resourceful Bill.

Will miss you buddy

Bill asked that I help dispose of his "stunt stuff"...
I got rid of most of it....thanks to those that helped...I'm certain that he was pleased.

I still have some left....I am going to round it up and offer it as a lot....with proceeds going to Dr. Sparky....

Watch the classifieds.

Thanks

Rich,

Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend Bill.  Much appreciate the folks sharing here, mentioning that he liked to practice.  It's early in the season for a lot of NVCL members, but I'll be practicing tomorrow.  My impression at Brodak's 2019 was that folks further South than Virginia, in Florida, some practiced more than once a week.

Peter

  I have known Bill most of my life. I met him going to the King Orange Contest in Florida when I was probably 8-9 years old. He dominated that contest for many years, and we joked that his name was all over that perpetual trophy, like a rash. I really got to "know" Bill when we were on the US team in 2010. He and I shared a room, and were launching partners at the field.  We had a wonderful 2 weeks, and had some very memorable moments together,  like finding a huge swimming park that was part of our hotel, but completely hidden unless you knew it was there. Of course we took a swim, before we informed the rest of the team. Coming back in swimming trunks  and towels didn't seem to go over too well. It was 100 degrees "inside" the hotel....

I will forever cherish the time we had together Bill. Godspeed my friend.

Derek Barry

I was able to get Bill to take some flights even while wearing his jet pack (O2).
Last spring, I believe

I never did get to spend much time with Bill but when we did get to visit I remember we laughed a lot.
Like Doug mentioned, a more fierce competitor would be hard to find but he rounded that out with common sense, respect, humor and a wonderful personality. 

I can only echo what's been said.  Good bye my friend; rest soundly in god's embrace.

Ted Fancher

I never did get to spend much time with Bill but when we did get to visit I remember we laughed a lot.
Like Doug mentioned, a more fierce competitor would be hard to find but he rounded that out with common sense, respect, humor and a wonderful personality.

What a great picture, Les.  Only wish I had one like it with Bill.  A good man.  A great friend.  A fierce competitor and, once again, a Good Man.

Ted

In honor of Bill's custom of practicing a lot, Gerry Glier and myself put in a number of flight's on Bill's SV-22 yesterday.  Flies great.  My first time flying a piped plane.

Peter