Bill lettered 2 years in football and was an honorable mention all-state end his senior year. He was a member of the 1953 Big 12 championship team. He was runner up to Chuck Schrader as Champaign High's Athlete of the Year. He lettered 2 years in baseball.  He lettered in wrestling his senior year. He was the 1952 Big 12 Conference champion at 154 lbs. Bill lettered 2 years in wrestling at the University of Illinois, where he placed third at the NCAA's his senior year at 157 lbs. He later joined the R.O.T.C. and became Battalion Commander. Bill graduated from the school of engineering with honors.