Bill's Education:

Elementary School: (Anderson and Gompers Elem.)

Bill was an introverted, chubby, unpopular, social misfit with few friends, but was fairly intelligent, creative, artistic and won the trophy for "best 1-on-1 basketball player in the school." He also played Santa Claus every year in the school play. Wonder why? :) The school later  awarded him the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Bill receives the Distinguished Alumni Award from his Elementary School, Gompers Elementary.

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Jr. High School (Beeber Jr. High)

Bill lost weight, grew his hair, began playing the drums, started his own band "Albatross" (photo) and "miraculously" became much more likable. :)  (L-R) is Bill's brother Brett (bass) Kenny Brown (keyboards) Charles Reid (Deceased) (guitar/vocals) Chris Hughes (percussion) Steven Bundick (sax) and Bill above him. Bill received his 1st standing ovation and his 1st massive boo with this group.

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High School: (Overbrook H.S.)

High school was the best time of Bill's school life. He was School President, played on the baseball team, was a member of the National Honor Society, was the Musical Director for almost every show the school produced and his band began to gain in popularity, playing night clubs and private parties everywhere. He began to wear his trademark scarf during this time. He also attended Settlement Music School where he studied percussion. He gave the Commencement address at his graduation and was later inducted into the Overbrook H.S. Hall of Fame. He also won the Will Smith (also an Overbrook grad) Distinguished Alumni Award.

Bill was inducted into the Overbrook H.S. Hall of Fame.

Bill receives the 2014 "Will Smith Overbrook High School Distinguished Alumnus Award" from the Elvira B. Pierce Scholarship Fund.

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College: West Chester (State) University

College was a very interesting time for Bill. Yup, that's a jheri curl hairdo. lol.
Bill was the only minority in most of his classes. He wasn't the greatest classical musician, so he didn't quite stand up to most of his highly trained classical peers. He auditioned but never passed the jazz band auditions in his entire 4 years at the school. He even failed Piano 101 at the school. However, he played for a lot of Frat parties, played in a rock band and was a member of the marching band. Bill developed a very focused work ethic and sharpened his social interaction skills majorly here.
​The school later rewarded Bill with the Martin Luther King Drum Major For Justice Award. He was also featured in a major print and billboard campaign to advertise for the school's recruitment. Bill's name is forever etched on a statue in the middle of campus honoring Fredrick Douglass and he also gave the Commencement Speech for the class of 2013, receiving the 1st standing ovation for a graduation speech since he left the school. Bill's profile and interview can be searched on West Chester's website to this day.

Bill received WCU's "Drum Major for Justice Award" alongside his mentor and former H.S teacher, George Allen.

Bill's name is etched in stone on a statue commemorating Fredrick Douglas that is placed in the center of the W.Chester U. campus.