Bill graduated from Bradley
University in Peoria, Ill. in 1967 with a degree in industrial
distribution, a curriculum established by Caterpillar with an
emphasis on civil engineering and business administration. He
then went into the Army Reserve and fell in love with Arizona
but later returned to Rock Island to join his father in the
family business, Waters Construction Company. In 1970, Bill and Debbi Collins
introduced Bill to Judy Earle Withrow (RIHS class of '61). On
their first date, Bill took Judy for an airplane ride over the
Quad Cities to see the lights and then to the Gay Nineties for
dinner. This was Judy's first time in an airplane, and she
remembers how, as they were preparing to land, Bill, trying to
keep a straight face, turned to Bill Collins in the back seat
and asked if the landing instructions were "in the seat pocket
back there." Eight months later, Bill and Judy
were married and moved to Moline where they raised their three
children, Stephanie, Jeff, and Julie, who now live in Texas,
Florida, and Arizona respectively. All three kids are married to
their awesome best friends and have three children each, thus
Bill and Judy are grandparents of seven boys and two girls
ranging in age from 1 to 16 years. They spend much time with the
three little boys that live near them in Arizona and try to get
to Texas and Florida as often as possible. Stephanie will
complete nursing school in May. Jeff is self employed in real
estate. Julie is a substitute teacher and has her own income tax
business. In 1987, Bill and Judy attended
Stephanie's graduation from the University of Arizona, and Bill
remembered how much he enjoyed Arizona. Seven months later, he
closed his business and moved his family to the Phoenix area.
His other two children graduated from Arizona State. Since 1988, Bill has worked for
the Earnhardt's Auto Dealers where he is currently the director
of risk and facilities. Earnhardt's has dealerships in the
Phoenix area and El Paso. Bill enjoys working and has no plans
to retire soon. Judy retired last May from her position as admin
to the CEO at the Institute for Supply Management. Since 2005,
they've cruised to Alaska and Mexico and down the West Coast
from Vancouver to Los Angeles. Over the years, Bill's hobbies
have been flying, boating, and photography, and now, in his old
age, he's become a biker and can be seen on his motorcycle
riding around Arizona. Ironically, he and a neighbor from Geneseo, Ill. have become riding buddies. Good high school memories include
"riding the ones" in his '53 Chevy, renting motorcycles
(unbeknownst to his parents), attending athletic events, and fun
times on the Mississippi in sometimes less than river-worthy
watercraft. After his high school days, he was actually rescued
from the river by his life insurance agent! On Bill's favorite teacher list,
you would see the names of Mr. Bill Armstrong, Mr. Cletus
Melchior, Miss Kathleen Buren, and Mrs. Bonnie McKelvey. He
wishes he'd been nicer to Miss Parish. Today for fun, Bill and Judy enjoy movies and stage plays, Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Diamondbacks baseball, Wheel of Fortune and HGTV! They have no pets. They love to babysit, and they live in a Del Webb Active Adult Community. You can contact Bill at wfwaters@cox.net. |
