William Edward “Bill” Epperson—Millikin graduating class of 1966—passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2024, following a brief illness. Bill was born in Centralia, IL, on July 3,1944, and was 80 years of age at his passing. Bill and Cheryl (Thompson) Epperson—also a Millikin graduate of 1966—his spouse of 58 years, who survives, were longtime residents of Alabama, current members of CenterPoint Church and residents of Deatsville AL (Approx. 20 miles north of Montgomery). Bill is also survived by their daughter, Pamela Epperson, son, Will (Cindy) and two grandchildren, William and Shelby Epperson.
While a student at Millikin, Bill became the first student elected as class president with his freshman, sophomore and junior classes. He was also elected as president of Millikin’s student senate and of the student body. Throughout his student years, Bill was active in the young Republican’s group. Bill was of Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity as well as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity.
Following Millikin’s spring graduation in 1966 and after an August 1966 marriage to Cheryl Thompson, Bill entered the Air National Guard in Alabama and accepted a position with First Alabama Bank (now Regions Bank). Within three years, Bill was named Vice President for Commercial Banking. He remained with First Alabama for 20 years before joining Montgomery Bank as Executive Vice President and continued in that position for an additional 10 years after the bank was taken over by Aliant Bank. Shifting focus after 30 years in banking, Bill worked for a brief period as a stockbroker before reentering banking as Vice President of Commercial Banking at the Bank of Prattville, a position he held for 5 years.
As he had been at Millikin, Bill was active in social and civic affairs throughout his career. He served with the executive board of the Montgomery County Republican Committee for 10 years. He also served as chairman of the Montgomery County Chamber Committee and as president of the Lighthouse Counseling Center. For 20 years, Bill served on the State of Alabama board for the Easter Seal Society—16 years as treasurer and 2 two-year terms as president. He was active at the national level for the Easter Seal Society (based in Chicago), serving on various national committees and participating in national conventions and in other capacities in support of the Society.
One of Bill’s most proud accomplishments was being one of six people who drafted the legislation for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Their draft document was adopted by the White House and introduced into the House and Senate in 1988. The ADA was subsequently adopted and passed by both Houses of Congress and signed into law by President George H. W. Bush in 1990. The ADA is administered through the Department of Justice.
Bill’s career at Millikin began in the School of Music. He had been active in grade school and high school music programs as a clarinet player. While in high school he toured Europe for three weeks with the School Band of America program.
He entered Millikin University as a music major in the fall of 1966 as a fine clarinet player. Although he later changed his major to liberal arts, he played the clarinet in all Millikin’s instrumental groups and during his years there composed incidental music for several plays and other theater programs.
Bill maintained his musical involvement throughout his life. At various times he taught clarinet lessons privately. He performed regularly at the Museum of Fine Arts as well as with Alabama Public Television. He was a member of the 151st Alabama Army National Guard band for 12 years. During his last seven years with the band, Bill was 1st Sargeant and enlisted band director. In his final year with the band, it was selected as the best National Guard band in the country and spent 2-weeks at West Point (New York) replacing the US Army Band. The two-week tour concluded with a concert at Rockefeller Center.
Over their 58 years of marriage, Bill and Cheryl enjoyed wide ranging travels by car, air and cruise ship. In all, they visited 42 states and 21 countries with many locations visited at least twice.
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