Doug Miller

Very sorry to hear of Bill's passing.  There is a poignant comment on his profile about the pleasures of riding his bike.  A nice guy... a classy guy even back in high school when that label did not fit most of us. It sounds like he had an interesting life.

Jeanne Lichty (Sutter)

So sad to hear about Wills passing...he was my date to homecoming my senior year. I remember the date, my dress, and his kind and gentle manner.

Bill Imig

Wow!  This is very sad news.  He was my neighbor, friend and a real buddy.  He was genuine and reliable.  Speaking of gentleness, When we were in 7th or 8th grade, he was trying out a new BB gun and shot and killed a robin.  I don't think he realized that the gun could actually kill something and he was bummed out about the death for many months after that.  I'm going to miss him.  Peace to you Will.

Ruth Fiene (Hanon)

This is so sad but I think Bill was probably doing just what he wanted to do.  He left this world on a fast ride!  His profile does say how much he enjoyed riding.

Rita Fiene (Reed)

Very very sorry to see the news of Bill; he was a good guy and friend to many

John Ralph

Hi John, I hope this is suitable for posting.  Please let me know if there is anything else that you need.  I too could not find anything additional from the funeral home even though I offered to send my marriage license to prove our relationship.  It is kind of strange that there would be no information about the accident or where he is buried from the funeral home, but I have been unable to determine either.  When I knew him he was Bill but I see he changed to being called Will.

Bill grew up in Omaha, Nebraska with his parents and siblings.  When it came time for college he could have gone to the University of Nebraska but he instead received a place at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  He loved basketball and started out on the team there but lost so much weight due to the hazing that he was no longer permitted to play.  He overcame the extremely difficult hazing that went far beyond starvation such that it would be criminal today and he still remained in school for a year.

When he left, he chose the Air Force to fulfill his military obligation and he was then sent to Vietnam.  There he served as a spotter pilot flying a very small plane low over the landscape and reporting what he saw to help protect our soldiers from the Vietcong.  His plane was shot at many times but he successfully brought it back each time to base and survived the war.

He remained in the Air Force after the war and became an F-4 fighter pilot rising to the rank of Major.  In that position he spent some time at Air Defense Command installations as well as being ultimately stationed in Fort Worth, Texas.  After that he was transferred to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC. and he became a pilot for Air Force 2.  He flew Vice President Bush wherever he wanted to go.  He had a picture of himself with VP Bush on his shelf and had a Thanksgiving dinner in KunnebunkPort, Maine with the Vice President and his family.

After he retired from the military he became a commercial pilot and flew Presidential candidate Dukakis around on the campaign trail.  He was subsequently one of the original pilots for Presidential Airlines that was based in DC.  That company built an entire terminal at Dulles Airport and subsequently became part of United Airlines. While still an airline pilot he purchased a home in Satellite Beach, Florida near Patrick Air Force base.  It was a lovely house with a pool very close to the beach.  He spent his time walking on the beach, golfing at Patrick Air Force base, relaxing on the porch reading the paper in the morning or swimming in the pool and playing tennis.  He absolutely loved everything about Florida.  Subsequently, he bought another house even closer to the beach.  He was too modest to tell this part of his story but the rest can be summed up in his bio.

Our divorce was very amicable but we were going in different directions.  He wrote me a letter letting me know his new address.   He loved golf.  We used to play golf on the Patrick Air Force Base course a lot.  He also played a lot of tennis but he may have given that up due to tennis elbow.    I can't thank you enough for sending me his pictures.  I was astonished that he passed away.  His parents lived to be very old and I thought that he would too.  He did not have a motorcycle when I knew him.  Of all places to ride one Florida (and California) would be perfect.  I am so sad that he is gone.  I used to think of him being happy in Florida.

Thank you very much again.

Regards,  Dorothy

Ann Davis (Davies)

Bill Wright was the first boy in my life that kissed me!  One never forgets that.  He was a very sweet adorable guy!

Sandra Bloom (Pommerening)

Thank you John for offering this bio of Bills life, as his wife knew it. What a loving tribute to a very special classmate.  Possibly we would have not known this had she not offered as Bill was very modest.  He was a talented man and had a very interesting career.  Rest In Peace Bill.

William Trowbridge

Bill was a truly great guy. I think he died doing something he loved.

Nancy Hester (Nicholson)

William Wayne Wright was born 2 February 1941.