Bill was active in a rural Minnesota 4-H club and continued to be dedicated to 4-H throughout his 32 year career. As an agent in Wisconsin, a county director in Minnesota, Montana Western Region Supervisor, and State Leader in Colorado and Arizona, his efforts on behalf of youth remained steady. In the 4-H Strategic Planning Council, he led the effort in developing the National 4-H Strategic Directions Council, and some of the first national research projects about Essential Elements for Positive Youth Development and measuring the impact of the 4-H program. He became a prime mover in establishing the UA Institute of Children, Youth and Families and led the first efforts in Volunteer Certification and Club financial accountability.
As State Leader in Colorado and Arizona, Bill was active in the Western Region, including development of the Western Marketing Initiative that produced volunteer recruitment materials used all over the country. Bill promoted the statewide 4-H Program in Character Education in Arizona and worked to acquire over $1 million in grants and gifts to develop programs for the Arizona Department of Education, Department of Economic Security as well as all 4-H programs in the state. In Colorado and Arizona, he led the organization of International Exchanges with Japan and set up policies and procedures for the continued funding of these programs.
