Simpson, William Taylor “Bill” Jr., died peacefully with his family at his bedside on February 6, 2017.
Bill was born in Newnan, Georgia in 1927, and grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He enrolled at Davidson College at age 15, and was on the basketball, baseball, tennis, and track teams. Bill left college to serve in the Navy during World War II and returned to graduate in 1948.
After graduation Bill moved to Louisville to teach at Kentucky Military Institute (KMI) for a two-year contract, and never left. He married Diane Dixon Richmond, the daughter of the president of KMI, Col. Charles Blair Richmond, in 1952. He coached the KMI basketball team for 25 years in the highly competitive central Florida Gulf coast area.
Bill completed his master’s degree in educational administration at the University of Louisville in 1954, and received a Ph.D. in administration and management of behavioral sciences from the University of Kentucky in 1964. Bill became president of KMI in 1966, and held that position until the school closed ten years later.
He began a second career in 1976 as a trust officer at Citizens Fidelity Bank, where he was senior vice president and head of the Trust and Investments Department from 1979 until his retirement in 1992.
After retirement Bill served as a private banking consultant to PNC, and was on the Board of Directors of the Rembrandt Fund, a Chicago mutual fund company, for ten years.
Bill served on the boards of directors of the Louisville Community Foundation (Executive Committee and Chair of Grants Committee), American Red Cross Louisville Chapter (Chairman of Board of Directors), Bingham Child Guidance Center (President of Board of Directors), Greater Louisville Fund for the Arts, the Kentucky Home Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (President), the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (Chair Kentucky Accreditation Committee), the Kentucky Country Day School, and St. Francis School.
He was a member of the Louisville Country Club, the downtown Rotary Club of Louisville, and the downtown YMCA. Bill served on the Vestry at St. Francis Church, where he was Senior Warden, and later joined St. Matthews Episcopal Church.
Bill was predeceased by his sister Rebecca, his brother David, and his wife Diane.
He is survived by his three sons, Kennedy (Sara), Richmond (Susan), and Taylor (Melinda); his eight grandchildren Tierney Jutzi (Joe), Storey O’Barr (David), Blair Bell (Dustin), Will Simpson, Palmer Simpson, Maclin Simpson, Ryan Simpson and Darcy Simpson; and his two great-grandchildren Emery and Grayson O’Barr.
Bill was an avid golfer and bridge player, and a diehard fan of the Cincinnati Reds and UK basketball. His joy in life was his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He left an indelible imprint on his professions, his community, and his family, and he will be sorely missed as he joins his beloved Diane in the kingdom of heaven.
Visitation will be held at St. Matthews Episcopal Church at 10 a.m. Friday, February 10, with a memorial service at 11:30 a.m.
Donations may be made to St. Matthews Episcopal Church, the Louisville Area Red Cross, or the YMCA of Greater Louisville.