Bill was one of several guys in the stunt community that I've known since I was in kindergarten. He, like many others, were very kind and supportive of me, both in the modeling realm and in my military career.
The last time I saw Bill was at the Sig Fun-Fly a few years ago. We were sitting outside the rooms at the Cozy Country Inn in town one evening, having a few beers and trading Army/Air Force stories. Right in the middle of our conversation, a guy in another room who clearly had a few too many, stumbles out of his room and projectile vomits all over the sidewalk. It freaked out dad and Bill a bit, but I've seen enough Soldiers drink more than they could handle and lose their lunch that it wasn't a big deal
It is also very much worth noting that Free Flight Legend Lee Hines passed away last week as well. Anyone with any free flight experience probably knows his name. Lee was a multi Nat's winner, multi-FAI team member, designer of several popular glider designs dating back to at least the 70s, and all-around awesome guy. I had the privilege of flying with him a few times here in Colorado. There were several occasions in which myself and a few other flyers would be standing in the glider pen, waiting for a good thermal to come by. Lee would walk up, casually toss his glider, and we would watch it hook a thermal and head downrange. His ability to pick air was astounding.
Fair winds, Bill and Lee!