Bill was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a fourth generation wood worker and has been specializing in lathe work since 1979. He graduated from college with a BA in anthropology and a minor in art. He served in the Army as a medic and moved to Crested Butte in 1970. During the 26 years of living in Crested Butte, he helped organize the first Crested Butte Arts Festival; was a member of the Paragon Gallery; assisted in creating the Town Park Totem Pole; worked as a ski patrolman for CBMR; and worked at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
His interest in woodturning resulted from a course being taught by David Ellsworth at Anderson Ranch Center in Snowmass, CO. David was a good mentor and he greatly inspired Bill’s work. Bill became one of the first members of the American Association of Woodturners. Attending several woodworking symposiums at Brigham Young University and receiving a grant from the Crested Butte Society for the Arts to study with Master Turner Richard Raffan influenced him and refined his skills.
In 1996 Bill and his wife Kerry moved to the North Fork Valley of the Gunnison where they live on a small farm located on Powell Mesa, near Hotchkiss, CO. Bill’s shop is located there. Most of the wood he uses comes from within a 50-mile radius of Crested Butte. The aspen is from standing dead trees on Kebler Pass, while the boxelder burl, walnut and fruitwoods are from the North Fork Valley.
To view Bill’s work, click here.