Bill Roe

1950 - 2020

In Memoriam   Bill Roe

By Tom Cotner

Bill Roe passed away on Saturday, February 29th, in Victoria, British Columbia.  True to his passion, he was there in support of the Canada-US Cross Country Cup.

Loyal friend. President. Official.  Coach.  Meet Director. Visionary.  Club Northwest founder.

Bill’s passion was track and field, and cross country running.  He served both on the Men’s Long Distance Running committees and the Cross Country Council for many years.  He also served two terms as President of USA Track & Field, as well as Vice President and Secretary.

If you were holding a conversation with Bill, and it wasn’t in a bar, likely he was working.  If he was involved in course preparation, that meant that you were in for a conversation in motion because he was singularly focused on what he was doing.  This meant that if you were setting up a cross country course for two to three hours, conversations would stop and start up where they left off, as both of us would come back together periodically.

Everything he did, from planning to execution, was meticulous and precise.  It was the Bill Roe Way and it was wonderful to watch.  He was involved in every aspect of our sport.  He is simple irreplaceable!

Bill was a visionary.  Some of his ideas have had a far-reaching effect on our sport.  Many required a lot of work and a lot of perseverance.  They often needed a team effort to implement, but Bill was the driving force behind them.  The USATF National Club Cross Country Championships was one such endeavor.  This meet began in the early 1990s with Bill’s encouragement. Though it got off to a somewhat shaky start, with friends like Andy Martin at USATF headquarters, it has thrived the past dozen years.  This last year at Lehigh University, over 2,250 registered to race at the highest level. It also featured the largest women’s field in the history of cross country running in the United States.

Bill was also responsible for establishing the Club National Track and Field Championships, which brought together more than a hundred clubs from all over the nation.  It continued for about twenty years.

One lasting tribute to Bill’s legacy was the founding—and directing— of the Club Northwest All-comers series, which has 12 meets a year. Bill was involved in the All-Comers promotion, sponsorship, management, and meet directorship for every meet for 51 years!  When he was President of USATF for eight years, he never missed a meet, an amazing testament to his dedication.

This quote is from Don Kardong, Bloomsday Run founder and fourth place finisher in the 1976 Olympic marathon.

"Bill was a superstar in the running community. He did it all--administration, race directing, officiating, promotion, coaching, and anything else that needed to be done to help the sport. But I'll remember Bill mostly as a friend, as loyal as they come. He attended every Bloomsday from the very beginning in 1977, sometimes driving over from Bellingham after working a track meet all day, just to make sure he was in Spokane to help out wherever he could. No matter how I was feeling, seeing him on race day always brightened my day."

--Don

But it is as a friend that I will remember Bill.  Although I have known Bill for over thirty years, I really didn’t have many long or heartfelt conversations with him until the advent of cell phones.  Sometimes I would catch him in his cabin, away from work, away from any real duties. He would be much more open, talking with pride about his Western Washington teams, of recent successful changes in their training.  While he was open about his health and joked about his diet (he always seemed to have a bag of almonds around), he was relaxed and looking forward to his future retirement.  Which I imagine, regardless of what he said, would involve a lot of track meets and a lot of casual work for the sport he loved so much.

Photo Credit Peter Thompson

Meb Keflezighi:

Bill Roe was a President, leader, and a coach. A well rounded and balanced person. And a good friend. I felt fortunate to be in his presence. He was dedicated and loved Track & Field at all levels. Thank you Bill. RIP.

Maggie Roe:

Bill was one of the few people where the phrase “to know him is to love him” was the truth. He was the most kind and supportive person - as I know hundreds and hundreds of friends, athletes, and colleagues can attest.

He encouraged me from the time I was 14 to keep throwing, stick with it, and take it as far as I could. He was part of the reason I decided to go to Western, and he helped me walk on to the track team - which changed my entire life. His voice on a meet PA system was the soundtrack to many of my most memorable moments, and he served as my private cheering section many many times. He supported me in ways no one else could - finding silver lining in less-than-perfect performances, and offering a big hug no matter how far I threw.

I was always very proud when people recognized my last name at meets - they’d tell me how much they loved Bill and that felt really special... I’m not gonna lie, I’ve spent much of the last 24 hours crying, wishing I told him the ways he impacted me, and how very proud I was to be his niece. My family might not have Uncle Bill pushing (begging) the little ones to try Track anymore - but I think that means it’s my turn. I’ll take it from here, Bill.

Pat Tyson:

Bill Roe is Northwest Running!  He is the heart and soul of what has led to our region being so dominant in the sport of running!  From jogging to all Comer meets!  From indoor meets to road races!  Bill’s DNA is all over it!  Irreplaceable!  Bill gave his total life to making a difference in our amazing sport!  I am crushed!  I am saddened!!!!! He always did it the right way!  R.I.P. Bill Roe.

Jeffrey Clarke:

Bill was an amazing force for running and not just in the northwest. The Track House was the seed for CNW and a host of talented runners through the years. His encouragement of all of us to excel and be the best we could be was so appreciated. Bill was running in the northwest.

Ruth Perkins:

As I advanced in my running career and competed around the nation he seemed to always be there. It was so comforting finding him everywhere. He is such a pillar in our sport and we will miss him so very much.

Meghan Lyle:

We're all going to miss Bill so much, and the constant presence he was in support of the running community.  He was a servant leader defined by the constant energy of giving back to the sport he loved. I am so glad that we honored him with the renaming of All-Comer's in his name while he was here with us, on a day that we could see the look on his face when it was announced. 

Uli Steidl:

So saddened by the news that Bill Roe passed away. Nobody will ever be able to fill the shoes he is leaving behind in the Pacific Northwest track & field community. Like size 25.
One of my favorite memories is from the All comers meet in Shoreline, at the time when he was USATF president. He was there to set up, and direct the kids events, then left about half way through the meet: "I got to go to SeaTac, catch my flight to the World Championships".
Bill was Track & Field (and XC, road running, MUT), from all-comers meets to the Olympics.
Miss you, Bill!

Mike Blackmore:

I met Bill as a high school athlete when he asked me to run in a meet in Seattle shortly before the Commonwealth Games took place in Canada. I remember running in a race with Rod Dixon as a 16 year old. Pretty sure I got lapped a few times. Bill was a big part of Club Northwest for well over 40 years and loved the sport of cross country. Club cross and US XC championships will never be the same from this day forward. You are a legend, Bill.

Karl Kunkle:

I have known him for 30 years and he was always helpful, cheerful (well, maybe not always) and kind.  He cared about running and about all of us runners.  It won’t be the same when I toe the line without hearing his voice giving instructions.

Frank Dauncey:

He will be missed, so much, by so many people. Generations. That thought made me sad at first, I was feeling sorry for myself that I wouldn't see him again, but, my attitude changed when I again thought about the many thousands of hearts he touched or influenced. There will be many stories told about Bill, I have a few, he was wonderful to be around especially when we were working a track meet, cross country meet, or a road race (or a beerfest, especially at beerfest! ). He was a little OCD about things and didn't suffer fools so we always did it "Bill's Way," Bill's way always worked. Bill's way will still work, even though he's not here to direct us, his spirit will live on in each of us, so lets continue his legacy, promote our sport just as Bill did. Cheers to you Bill Roe, I love you and what you are, I lift a glass in your honor and look forward seeing you again.

Mac Franks:

A simply extraordinary human being.
You touched the lives of thousands of athletes in the Pacific Northwest and shaped the entire international running community because of your hard work and leadership. I feel cheated that I only had the chance to be one of your athletes for three short years, that I never had the chance to make it to your World Famous Up n Up to share a beer and play darts, and that I never got the chance to tell you that your belief in me as a runner was one of my main sources of motivation. I owe my trip to nattys to you.
I'll definitely miss the endless hot cocoa supply in the shed, the perfectly measured and marked workouts that felt like professional meets, and your hundreds of stories about the olympic athletes, coaches, and people that you had met in your lifetime.
I'll never forget the day I showed up to do a tempo on Urb, expecting to do it alone because I couldn't make it to practice, and you were there waiting. You drove your van to get the splits at every checkmark for the entire workout. That's the kind of coach you were, incredibly selfless and kind.
You are my role model.

Jadon Olson:

Bill, you were a whole lot more to me than just my Coach. You were like that super cool Uncle that all of us have been extraordinarily lucky to have, but most of all, a dear friend. I can't picture my running career without you, because it's true. Most of my time spent running at WWU was spent injured, but to you it didn't matter. You kept faith in my abilities, not just in running but in all of life, and you were completely non judgmental of any setback I encountered regardless. Your belief in myself and all of us Vikings transcended running. You cared so much more about us, and that whatever decision we made was for the best. That kind of support is so genuine and just unbelievably selfless.

Even though I could never beat you at darts, I know that I am so lucky to have had a coach like you where I could talk to you and joke around with you about just about anything over a beer at the Up and Up. Second to that, don't think I didn't enjoy every moment where I gave you , Juan, and Isaac extra points in darts out of spite of my lackluster skills.

The impact you made on not just us Vikings, but the whole running community is irreplaceable. I can't even fathom how many lives you genuinely touch for the better. Thank you so much for being you and believing in every one of us every moment we got the privilege to call ourselves one of your athletes. Every beer, run, birthday, or game of darts I play you know I'll always be thinking of you Bill.

Isaac Derline:

When I turned 21, I was inaugurated into the infamous Dart Night group that played every Tuesday at The World Famous Up&Up. Thanks to Bill, classic rock would be playing over the speakers almost endlessly. Walking in, he would almost always be eating his pizza consisting of shrimp, pineapple, and olives, drinking his ol'reliable Bodhizafa, and working on the day's crossword puzzle. My last six months of college I worked at this bar and was eventually the one that would make and bring Bill his pizza with some witty remark or something to make him laugh. These were always treasured nights, and it eventually spread to include Thursday's and Sunday's. The dart group laughed, cried, threw darts in frustration, and enjoyed each other's company every single gathering. Games of billiards between dart games among him, Juan, and I became a fierce rivalry; Bill always had stacks of quarters ready and any game could go to either of us depending on the night. Every night, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin would play over the speakers. Bill and I would look at each other, stand in place, and then take a moment to look to the sky, enjoying the peacefulness of the song. Why did we do this? Neither of us could tell you, but little moments like this were so special.

Juan Castillo:

Bill you are truly a wonderful man with a great heart who always wanted the best for everyone and would go out your way to help anyone in need. You believed in every person that you've ever met or coached that they had the ability to do amazing things on and off the racing course. You never turned people away and always gave them a shot to prove what they were made of and were always there rain or shine, snow or wind. Everyone who ever knew you knew that they could always rely on you for help or guidance.

Joe Gray:

Bill Roe was always someone there to lend a hand to athletes and to events. He was hands down one of the best event announcers and gave the most accurate introductions. Early in my career Mr. Roe gave me direction post college as I had no idea what to do in regard to my running career. The gems he shared fueled many decisions that led me to this point in my career. In 2013 I was headed into one of the most competitive XC races of my life. I had no faith in myself and due to coming off of mountain racing season just weeks before, I had low expectations for winning such a fast paced XC race. After previewing the course he told me, "Joe you can win this thing, it's a tough one". I trusted him, he hadn't led me astray with advice before that moment. Instantly my confidence rocketed. I went on to take home one of my most memorable wins. Months later, I traveled with Mr. Roe to Tobago for the Pan American/NACAC Cross country championship to represent Team USA. Again, he gave me a similar message after he saw the course. Again, he lit me with confidence and again he was right. ⁣

Allen James:

It’s the passion that people like Bill had for our sport. It wasn’t self-serving or ego driven, it was out of pure passion. I ran, I officiated, I walked and I became a leader in our sport. It was Bill, Pre, Tyson, Doris, my mom especially, and so many more that gave me one consistent message, we do this for the love of the sport. It’s not about me making an Olympic team or two, it’s about the kids who are coming behind me and helping them be the best they can be.

Bill may not have been an Olympian or even a great runner, but to me, his spirit and enthusiasm for the sport embodied and overflowed to all he met. It was my privilege to know Rodent most of my life, he was my friend, mentor and brother. May you often run the peak of Olympus and drink the best pints in the universe of Up&Ups! Run In Peace!

Patrick McKeethen:

You may wonder why someone who lives in Texas would join CNW.  Well I have always been a member of CNW since the fall of 1976.  At that time Bill was not charging anyone to be a member as I recall.  I was not until years later when I found CNW on the internet that I realized I needed to “join up” to be official.  In 1977 I had run the track season as a CNW member, school was out I was heading home to California and stopped in Eugene to see the Prefontaine Classic.  I was sitting up in the stands with my drink and popcorn when Bill walked by on the track.  He had several athletes that had been invited to complete.  When he spotted me in the stands he called me down to speak with him.  He ask if I wanted to run in the 800 as there was an open lane and he thought he could get me in.  Well no one would turn down a chance to run in the Pre Classic and things worked out in my favor.  I must thank Bill Roe for providing me one of my best memories in my running career.  I am very sorry to hear of Bill’s passing, I was hoping to run into him in the near future as my son is now living in Seattle and I have plans to visit this spring.

Chris Villani:

Despite his quirks and foibles thousands of us from the public view point have Bill to thank for all the heavy lifting he did over the decades for our sport. From an 18 year old kid needing a place to live in December 1977; thank you Bill for a room in the Track House; even if it was the Dungeon. RIP. Oh, and Bill, you are welcome for the use of my old Dodge Dart to get the boxes of Norwesters to the SODO post office barely making the o’dark thirty deadline when your Ford Pinto was dead in the driveway. Oh those were fun times.

Dave Shogren:

There are few people in the world more dedicated to the sport of running than Bill Roe!
Bill taught me how to manage an event yet allow everyone to excel! I have spent many hours and days with Bill Roe creating events that people will remember for their life! Bill you made our lives better! Bill your teachings will live on forever!

Tom Smith:

Bill Roe, Thanks for being the epitome of selflessness for running and all you gave to us. For me, The Track House remains one of my remarkable running memories. Living in the basement, stretching on the main floor before training and talking track for hours and hours. Our sport has benefitted greatly by your enduring presence. Rest in Peace.

Regina Joyce:

Bill, for 40 years you have been a fixture at almost every running event I competed at in Seattle and around the the country. Just hearing your voice as I crossed a finish line was always a comfort. Competing for CNW, the club you founded, was an honor, and serving on the board of CNW opened my eyes to how much you devoted to our running community. No race will be the same without you. You have given so much to so many.. Thank you.. I'll will miss you dearly.

John Lehr:

Bill was such a large contributor to the Northwest running community and he will be missed dearly by the thousands of individuals lives he impacted in such positive ways.

Bill was the first person Dan Lehr and I contacted to probe the possibility of me running for the WWU track & field/XC team. He brought my stats to Pee Wee and one thing led to another and now I represent WWU day in and day out. Bill was a massive player in giving me such an amazing opportunity that I will cherish forever. It has changed my life in so many ways and grown me as a person. All of these are indirect results of Bill's passion, kindness, and willingness to give people a chance.

Things will never be the same without Bill. From your weekly dart games (which I missed the opportunity to be part of because I'm not 21 yet) to your devotion to the sport you loved so much, you were truly one hell of a guy. I miss you already coach. Rest easy.

James Jasperson:

Bill was always in my corner. A couple of years ago the team at Western was tight for money and sending individuals to the big California meets to go see what they could do. That year I was not selected to go because I didn't have a National mark. Bill came to me without me asking him and told me he thought that it was BS that I wasn't selected so he was going to donate money to the program to fly me out to the meet. He flew me to the hotel, got me a couple nights there, I managed a new PR, and flew me back. I couldn't express to him how grateful I was for the opportunity and he just sort of smiled and told me "Well you deserved it, you've worked hard for this and I knew you had more in you."

Susan Pappalardo:

We lost a running treasure and legend this past weekend. We all called Bill a friend because he was to every runner that crossed a finish line he helped establish and there were many. He laid & certified so many courses literally and figuratively. If you raced locally in any USATF certified race, Bill has called your name out as you pushed yourself to your limits, set your PRs and had your bad race days. Bill was there before a race with supportive words. Bill was there after races to deal with any detail left unattended. Bill was incredibly humble for a man who relentlessly gave to a sport he loved. I last saw Bill at Lehigh in December and just missed him this past weekend in Victoria. Thank you Bill for all you gave to our sport, for your effervescent smile and for always being there to give us opportunities to compete and do our best. It will take an army to replace you. And thank you for showing us what passionate commitment can look like and achieve. I have many fond memories throughout my NW running years as do we all. I am glad I was at the All-Comers meet when you were honored and your name so fittingly and forever etched into the series name. I will miss you and think of you always. It's our turn to call out your name as you cross the finish line of life. Rest in peace Bill.

Ben Crowell:

Being a rather inexperienced runner coming into the WWU xc/track program in 2015, he was someone who showed invested time and effort into helping me grow as a runner, which meant a lot. Through out my time running under him, I listened to everything he had to say, taking in as many stories and knowledge about running and life that he had to share. When injuries arose and I became sidelined during part of college, I found myself wanting to help him and to see just how he did what he did as a coach, and later finding out that he did A LOT for our team and the running world in general. It didn't matter if it was raining sideways or the hottest day of the year, he put together some of the best cross country/track meets single handedly. He was so good at his craft and I still don't really know how he did it, but he did it every weekend it seemed and loved every second of it. Throughout my last years at Western, meeting to throw darts over beer at the Up & Up became a fun point of my weeks, to pick his brain on everything track and field and anything else that came up on those nights. He was a great coach and even better friend for the more recent but short time I knew him. He was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back, or even better, buy you a beer. I was really looking forward to seeing him later this month but will instead always remember him for the selfless and caring man that he was. Rest easy, Bill.

Christin Dulaney:

So much of my involved in the track & field community would not and could not have happened without the opportunities Bill created. From the opportunity to compete in pole vault as a non-college athlete, to my first officials clinic, to letting me start a youth program for Club Northwest, to eventually a seat on the board. Though that chapter in my life is mostly closed, I am forever grateful for the impact it had on me. I would be lucky to live a life with the same passion, dedication, and commitment to anything the way Bill lived for the track & field community--supporting everyone, at all levels, in the face of setbacks obstacles, never giving up. It seems unlikely I’ll make to the memorial service, but tonight I will be watching Chariots of Fire while eating pepperoni and black olive pizza and drinking Blue Moon and toasting to Bill. Miss you too, friend!

Thaddeus Garlatz:

While Bill could be Bill (you all know what I mean by this), he really had a soft side that I’ve come to see and appreciate so much more these past few years since I’ve been back. It’s crazy how happy it made me watching Bill joke and play with my two little kids who I would often bring to practice. I was sure he was going to be irritated with me having to bring them, but I saw that he actually loved having them there, and they loved seeing him each day. It was so sweet.

Take solace knowing that Bill really lived his best life. He loved athletics. He loved New Zealand. He loved darts and beer. He did so much for so many. His selflessness still amazes me. He did things the right way, with no expectation of self benefit. I strive to be more like Bill in this regard.

Sarah Crouch:

Before my freshman year at WWU started I found myself in a rustic cabin off the coast of Washington state with my brand-new teammates. The cabin was owned by a man Named Bill Roe. In the mornings we’d crawl out of our sleeping bags and shiver as coach Pee Wee and Bill made breakfast over the hot griddle. And then we would run. Our first workout was 4 X 1 mile on a grass loop near old WW2 army barracks and as a 17-year old kid, when I completed that final mile rep and stood hunched over catching my breath, Bill put a hand on my back and told me I could be great at this sport. He was a constant presence for our team, a voice I came to know and expect during workouts and races, a smile and a hug and a sunny disposition that never wavered. A man with a complex mind and a past full of memories and mischief, and a tattoo I never quite got the full story behind. Back then I had no idea how far his influence reached, how he had served as president of USA Track and Field, had been to countless world-class events at the highest echelon of the sport, had founded a magazine that I was privileged to have my first cover on as a professional runner years later. I just knew him as Bill. I will miss him as Bill, and the sport will miss him as much, much more than that. Run in peace, Bill.

Megan Heuer:

I can’t imagine warming up for a race without hearing your voice. Or standing on the start line without waving to you on the side of the course. Or sprinting to the finish without the joy of hearing you call out my name. Thanks, Bill Roe, for all you did for the running community. You have spread your pure love and expertise of running to generations and generations of runners.

Shelby Schenck:

He was an icon in Track and Field circles and an inspiration to many of us. He was amazing man with a huge heart and great sense of humor. Bill did the timing for all of our Bothell Track home meets packing up his van and driving all the way down from Bellingham to help us out. I offered him more money to do our meets since it was such a chore but he said he would rather have that money go to our kids and the track program. I loved hearing him announce a meet with his great lines, "lane 4 going out at a VERY optimistic pace" and the way he treated the last place person the same as the winner. The Track and Field world will not be the same without Bill Roe. Rest in Peace my friend

Paul Limpf:

Bill was such a force on the track and field scene in the PNW and did so much volunteer work to grow the sport not only in the NW, but around the country. I will never forget working with him at the All-Comers meets at Shoreline during my time in Seattle. He could easily teach a course on meet management as every meet was perfectly run. But more importantly, he made the meets enjoyable for everyone. He truly enjoyed working with the youth and instilling a love for the sport at a young age. He also treated his volunteers at the meet to pizza every week to show his appreciation to them. He was influential in my post collegiate career and allowed me to be a part of Club Northwest and to pursue my post collegiate dreams. I could go on for days about my appreciation for Bill, but I want to thank him one last time for everything he did not only for me, but for countless others along the way. RIP, my friend.

David Burnett:

Bill Roe you are going to be missed my friend. I appreciate ALL of the knowledge you shared with me over the years. From the time I arrived in Washington you befriended me and even when I left you took time to check in and I wish I could say thank you in person again. Thank you for mentoring me. The track and field community worldwide has lost a great person who contributed heavily to the advancement of the sport. The in depth stories, dart games, trips, pre season camp, the grind of the seasons, and just the talks. All of it has made me a better coach but more importantly better person. You helped make everyday a great day for WWU Cross Country and Track and Field, so thank you. Love and will miss you.

Jamie Witten:

Bill Roe was a force of nature. PacNW T&F got the blessing of more time and attention than we'll ever be able to fully appreciate, and he still had more to give the greater T&F world. It's actually quite remarkable. Seeing the impact of his mentorship through his love of the sport in the messages and stories about him makes my heart swell. Yes, his passing leaves a hole, but he equipped so many near and far that his legacy will live and grow. Thankful to have known him,and will definitely miss his distinctive PA voice. Cheers, Bill.

Alison Mandi:

I wanted to post today about my son Nathan and I finishing our goal of running 15 miles together over the course of the month of February. But then I learned that Bill Roe passed away last night and I’m hit pretty hard. He organized the highest levels of USA Track & Field competition, even serving as USATF president, yet he was never too important to be there for the small local races announcing everyone by name. In fact the first run that Nathan and I did together this month was the 2-mile Winter Gran Prix, and even though we were the final race and it took 30 minutes for us to finish in the rain- Bill was making that race happen, and would have waited as long as it took for us cross the line and get our result. Many of my running highlights from my high school days all the way to the Club National Cross Country Championships a couple months ago were possible because of Bill. I’m glad I got to tell you earlier this month how much we appreciate you, but thank you is not enough. We took a photo of Nate jumping into the sunset as we finished our final run, right as you finished the race that is life. You will be missed by the running community. I pray you are resting with God in peace and health.

Tony Robinson:

Close family friend, coach, mentor, college housemate, partner in crime( oh, so many stories), we pissed each other off a bunch, you held my boys as babies, and teased my wife for marrying me, you saw I'm me what others didn't and passed on a deep love for sport, my many miles (and one Guinness record) are thanks to you, my many athletes are thanks to you. Of course you knew all this, because we shared all of this. I will miss you. No regrets in our friendship, nothing unsaid.

Sarah Kline Kinzer:

My uncle and God Father passed away yesterday. He was surrounded by friends doing what loved; setting up an international track meet. We celebrated him last night with pizza, a can of black olives and good beer. A kinder, gentler man there never was.

Mike Tully:

Bill Roe was a heck of a guy. Along with being a track coach at Western, he also worked for the ed department (and also happened to be the president of USA Track and Field). He knew that I was planning on being a teacher, and he always encouraged me and told me that I was going to be a head track coach someday. So here I am now, starting my 12th year as head track coach tomorrow. Thanks for helping me down that path Bill.

Matt Kite:

Bill Roe was the quintessential man of the people and a pillar of the running community. Although he served in many official capacities (President of USA Track and Field, distance coach at WWU, head of the long-running all-comers series, etc.), he was also a friend to countless runners, young and old. When he wasn't overseeing some race or jetting off to some far-flung locale with the US team, he was flipping burgers at the Up & Up -- or making spaghetti for his roommates and athletes at the "track house." Friend, mentor, drinking buddy (in an era when coaches and athletes could fraternize without worry). Rest in peace, Bill. You will be missed!

Travis Taylor:

This man was an icon and the heart of the cross country program at Western Washington. So many memories of the track house parties, community and laughter. My heart and soul go out to you Bill you were (are) the incredible man in the heavens now, may you continue your journey of running EVERY SINGLE DAY...for decades more to come. I’m recommitting to my running more and just finished a quick jaunt through the park by my apartment. In honor of bill.

Jesse Williams:

 Like so many in the northwest, I felt looked after by Bill for years. The Club Northwest days, working with him at the all-comers events, and hearing that familiar voice every time I crossed the line. He was THE person you called for everything in this sport and just an all around great guy.