William (Wild Willie) Taylor, Southington Rotary Lifetime Member Inductee

I am proud have been asked to induct Bill Taylor as a Lifetime Member of the Rotary Club of Southington.  I feel a bit put out about being passed up for the John Mullett or Tom McKnerney gig, but we are all team players here, and you do what you’re asked to do.

Born and raised in the streets of New York City, Bill early on fell in with ruffians and the like, living the rough and tumble West Side Story, yet taking time to sing streetcorner harmony with one Dion DiMucci in an acapella group which became known as Dion & the Belmonts.  You might be interested to know that it was Bill’s soaring falcetto you heard on the 50’s hit 45 “Why Must I Be A Teenager in Love.” The album jacket shows a tall, skinny kid with a greased-back DA haircut, looking something like a 50’s Kevin Mezzanotte.

After a brief stint doing ‘hard time’ for running numbers for the Mob (he was known as “Willie the Tailor”),  Bill enrolled at Columbia University, you guessed it, just in time for the 1960's student takeover of the University administration building.

He then appeared, Zelig-like, as a guest composer-performer with the Moody Blues, penning “Nights in White Satin” for their ‘Days of Future Past’ LP and then playing bass and being something of a groupie-magnet on their subsequent world-wide tour.

But then Bill decided it was time to focus on his real passion- banking.

Bill joined the Southington Rotary in 1984, garnering a solid 58% approval by the membership.  He immediately made his mark on the Club, teaming with Tom McKnerney to pass legislation that every Club event be an open bar, even breakfast meetings.  He rose through the chairs eventually becoming President in 1990, succeeding a true Rotary legend (whose name escapes me at the moment), using the campaign slogan ‘hey, back off, it’s MY turn!’  Unfortunately, during his term as President, Bill hurt his back and, depending on who you listen to, was out of action, according to legend, for 6 YEARS!  But, regardless, Bill left his mark on our Club:

In addition to serving as President, Bill was the voice of reason as the chair, for over six years, of the sometimes-stormy Gifts & Grants committee.  He also chaired the important Scholarship Committee for two years.  He was a silky-smooth voice of the airwaves on Rotary Radio Days and the deadpan sidekick to yours truly in some truly memorable (some would say truly forgettable) Rotary skits and tributes.

Bill Taylor is what Rotary is meant to be- someone who works hard

I am honored to introduce one of the three new Lifetime Members of the Southington Rotary Club - my fellow Rotarian – and my friend – Bill Taylor.  

John Kennedy, Presenter