By Doug LaViolette
“I remember the first time I met Bill; it was like yesterday. It was a beautiful summer afternoon in Door County, and I was strolling through some glistening classic cars at the annual Egg Harbor Car Show.
Then it caught my eye, a classic Chevy convertible that had an unusual front license plate that read “Where’s The Beef.” I was hooked and had to ask the owner, what’s the story behind the license plate? That’s when Bill’s eyes lit up and he went on to tell me how he was involved in creating that iconic beef slogan for Wendy’s.
That chance meeting in 2014 led to a fast friendship. Bill was not only a marketing genius but a kind, gentle and generous man. Bill served on Brian’s Foundation Board for many years and acted on his intuition many times creating a lasting impression on many.
One example is when he learned about the story of Riley Garbe through a local news story. Going to college was a far-fetched idea for Riley, as he grew up surrounded by drug addiction, alcoholism, abuse, and violence. Despite the adversity Riley faced throughout his childhood, he persevered and achieved his goals. The year after Riley graduated from college, a scholarship was established in his name at his alma mater, Freedom High School. Bill and his wife, Pam, were the driving force and sponsor of that scholarship.
“He was such a wonderful person. He lived an incredible life. I appreciate the time I was able to spend with him. There is so much to learn from an amazing person like Bill. He is someone that I will tell my children and grandchildren about.”-Riley Garbe
Riley with Bill after the Riley Garbe Scholarship was established in 2018.
You can learn more details about Bill’s life and his journey here.
Thank you for being our friend, Bill. We will miss you and I will miss our phone calls. You will always be in our hearts.
