Finishing the Fight: Rotary’s Final Push to End Polio Forever
Bill was born and grew up in Cartersville, Georgia. He is a graduate of Cartersville High School. He continued his education at the University of Georgia and graduated with a degree in Economics. He began his career in the Lighting Business with E. Sam Jones Distributing. He developed an interest in finance and joined the Bartow Financial Center. Bill went on to join the family business in property management. He is now the owner of WSF Properties LLC. Bill enjoys volunteering for the Atlanta Track Club helping with races. He is Race Course Director for The Atlanta 10 Miler and the Atlanta ½ Marathon. He has been volunteering with the ATC for 34 years. Bill also enjoys playing golf, traveling, and watching his Georgia Bulldogs. Bill joined the Rotary Club of Bartow County in 1995. He has served in numerous positions including President in 2000-2001. In 2001, he was the Governor’s Special Representative to start the Rotary Club of Etowah, and in 2004-2007 he served as an Assistant Governor. In 2014-2015 he served as District Governor for District 6910 and completed his second three-year term as a GRSP Trustee. Bill is a Ronnie Waller Fellow of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Bill was a District Director for GRSP from 2017-19. His club honored him in 1998 with the “Four Avenues of Service Citation”. He is a Major Donor 2nd level, Paul Harris Society member, Rotary Foundation Benefactor, a Bequest Society member, and a PolioPlus Society member. In 2011, he was presented with The Rotary Foundation District Service Award. Bill has also served as District 6910’s End Polio Now chairman from 2017 until the present. Bill realized his passion for volunteering during his scouting career, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with three palms and God and Country. He has since been very active in his community. He joined the Smyrna Housing Authority in 2002 and became Vice-Chairman until 2017. I for the Atlanta Track Club. Bill was a member of the Host Organization Committee for the Rotary International 2017 Atlanta Convention. Bill has gone on three NIDs (National Immunization Day). His last trip to India was in January 2020 to give Polio drops to the Indian children under 5 to keep Polio out of India. He represented District 6910 at the Rotary International Council on Legislation in 2019. Bill was also the Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for all the Districts in Georgia from 2018-2021. Bill was awarded Rotary International’s highest honor “Service Above Self” in 2017. Only up to 150 are given a year. Some years not even 150 are given. 2020 he was awarded the Citation for Meritorious Service Award and the Regional Service Award for a Polio Free World from The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. 2024 Bill was awarded the Rotary Foundation’s highest honor with the Distinguish Service Award. Only up to 50 are given a year only 26 were awarded in 2025. As of July 1, 2025 Bill has taken over the Annual Fund from PDG Scott Parmenter.