Bill Meyer — Westport’s uber-mega-volunteer-extraordinaire — will be honored next Sunday (March 10).
There’s a reason the 3 p.m. event is in Christ & Holy Trinity’s magnificent Branson Hall: It’s one of the few places in town big enough to hold all of Bill’s admirers.
In his 83 years, Bill has done more than 83 normal people could in 83 lifetimes.
Bill Meyer (Photo by Paul Schott/Westport News)
Professionally, he had a fulfilling career as national sales manager for several companies. “We manufactured and sold pens and pencils,” he says of one business.
That’s like saying Bruce Springsteen “plays music.” In fact, Bill managed 800 workers on a Blackfeet Indian reservation in Montana. He was so motivational and inspirational, the tribe adopted him — and gave him an honorary Indian name.
But as much as he traveled, Bill always found time for Westport.
Plenty of time.
Here is a teeny-tiny, way-too-partial list. Bill…
- was elected 9 times to the RTM. He chairs the Parks and Recreation Committee, and serves on its Education, and Health and Human Services Committees
- founded the Westport Little League softball program; was a member of the Little League board of directors; umpired — and had a softball field named for him
- served as Y’s Men president and membership chairman
- been a director of Sunrise Rotary, Senior Center, First Night, Westport’s AARP chapter, Westport Community Theatre, and 2 intercity Bridgeport agencies
- served on the Saugatuck Congregational Church council
- mentored a boy from age 5 through adolescence
- helped with Meals on Wheels
- volunteered on many Republican campaigns
- was a board member of Isaiah House in Bridgeport, which helps parolees transition from prison to life outside
- won the 2004 Service to Older Adults award
- earned a Westport First award
- received the YMCA’s Faces of Achievement honor.
I got tired making that list.
Bill never gets tired of anything.
Bill Meyer (right) receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from Senior Center president (and fellow RTM member) Jack Klinge. The event was a Super Bowl party — one of countless projects Bill organized. (Photo by Mike Lauterborn./Westport News)
He loves Staples. He loves Westport, sports, the theater, church, the Republican party, volunteering, old people, young people, and his wife Carolyn.
Bill also loves to talk.
Boy, can he talk.
When he takes the mike next Sunday — after tributes from state and local government officials; Little League, Y, LWV, First Night, Sunrise Rotary, Human Services and Saugatuck Church representatives; the Blackfeet Indians, his mentee, and his longtime friend Chris Shays — Bill will likely talk for a while.
He’ll thank all the people who helped him over the years. He’ll tell stories about his many adventures in Westport. One tale will lead to another. Then another.
And one more.
That’s fine. Bill Meyer deserves his day in the sun.
In fact, no one deserves it more.
This photo epitomizes Bill Meyer. He’s volunteering at the Great Duck Race, sponsored by Sunrise Rotary, while hugging Republican State Senator Toni Boucher.
