Bill began learning his trade as clock maker, watch maker, jeweler, engraver, diamond setter, designer and manufacturer of jewelry at the age of 5 from his father and his grandmothers brother. Bill was also a locksmith and photographer who developed and printed his own pictures.

Bill inherited the 'Homestead' in Cinebar from his father and also became a farmer, logger, plumber, electrician, carpenter and builder. Upon retirement he became a rock hound and gemstone expert. If asked if he could preform a certain task, his answer would be "Has it ever been done before? If it has I can do it for sure. If it hasn't been done before, perhaps I'll figure out a way to do it."

Bill would lend a tool yet he seldom borrowed one, figuring out a way to accomplish the task without the tool. He was a dedicated 'do-it-yourselfer'. His only son follows in his footsteps as being a dedicated 'do-it-yourselfer'.

There were three things he really did NOT like to do and avoided them at almost all cost. He did NOT like painting, washing cars and mowing lawns.

Bill was an extremely fair man making interest free loans as long as you kept up the payments. When your payment became in arrears, then the interest started.

He judged people by his past experience with them and they better NOT cross him.

Bill was a Master Mason, Shriner and Knights Templar. He served during World War I in France. He was drafted in Anaconda, Montana and inducted into the service of his country in Fort Lewis, Washington at a time when Germans were killing our guys off 'like flies'. Feeling he was nothing more than cannon fodder, he refused to marry his fiancé Gladys Winn saying he did not want her marrying a corpse. He approached many of his friends with his present possessions saying "I would like you to have this if I don't return, but if I return, I would like it back." Upon arriving at Fort Lewis he discovered there were no barracks, guns or uniforms for the men. Housing became pup tents and those inducted from Arizona, to the man, died in Fort Lewis in their pup tents. He drilled in his business suit with a stick instead of rifle. He was given a pamphlet describing his rights and responsibilities as a soldier. Upon reading the same, it informed him the Army could NOT tell him what to wear or how to wear it until they put him in uniform. The next morning his drill sergeant upon seeing his Masonic button on his lapel, told him to remove that button saying, "You are in the Army now." Bill produced the pamphlet, read what it said therein and informed his sergeant in presence of the platoon that "A dam sight better man than you put that button on there and it is gonna take a dam sight better man than you to take it off!" Needless to say, he drew all kinds of undesirable tasks. Latrine duty and KP especially. Induced at the same time were a large number of men from Chicago who were Italian Underworld Crime people, Mafia. The Army was afraid to put rifles in their hands for fear they would turn on their officers and mow them all down. This group was separated from the rest and sent to France together with Bill.