Bill and Pearl Speer
Bill Speer was born in Kansas City, Missouri as William L. Speer on April 3, 1942. Bill was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry on June 26, 1964 and retired from active duty on September 1, 1994 as a Colonel.
During his thirty-year career, Bill served in a wide range of command and staff positions. At Company level, he served as a platoon leader, Company Executive Officer, and Company Commander. Four commands at company level provided him with 36 months’ command experience, seven of which were in combat. His Infantry staff experiences include Battalion Communications Officer, S-3 Air, and S-2. His AMEDD and Combat Service Support staff experiences include Healthcare Personnel Officer, Civilian Personnel Officer, Clinical Services Administrator, Health Systems Instructor, teaching department Executive Officer, and Executive Officer to the USAREUR Surgeon. Bill’s field grade command experiences were as Troop Commander, Eisenhower Medical Center, Commander, 15th Medical Battalion, Commander 68th Medical Group, Deputy, 3rd COSCOM Commander, and Deputy Commander, Ft. Riley MEDDAC.
Bill holds a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from Baylor University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Kansas State University. Since retirement, he taught school, directed municipal human resource management, and participated in a wide range of community philanthropic programs. He serves his community as: Past Chairman of the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation, Past Chairman of the Geary County Board of Zoning Appeals, Served as a trustee for the Kansas Nurses Foundation, Past President of the Junction City Optimist Club, Past President of the Junction City Rotary Club, Past Secretary of the Geary County Republican Party, a member of the Junction City Chamber of Commerce, and Past Vice-Chairman of Geary County Rural Water District #4 Board. Currently he is The National Director for the South-Central Winnebago Chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), and past President of the Kansas Twisters Chapter of (FMCA). Bill regularly served USD 475 as a substitute teacher in special education for behavior and learning disabled students.
Bill’s military awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Soldier’s Medal for heroism, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal w/ 40LC, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Parachute Badge. His civilian honors include Kappa Delta Pi, Gold Key, Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies, and the Rotary Paul Harris Award. He was recognized as the Kemper Military School 1994 Distinguished Alumni and the 996 Kansas State University College of Education, Distinguished Honor Graduate.
Bill recently served as the MILWIT President for 4 years and brought to our club the experience and organization skills he acquired during his illustrious career. The MILWITs are well received by the WIT club staff and the citizens of Forest City due to his efforts in supporting and promoting our club’s activities in the community. We appreciate all he has brought to our club and hope that he continues to be an active participant helping to keep all of us who have followed him on the straight and narrow path!
Bill met and married his wife, Pearl, during his stay at Fort Sill where he was recovering from serious combat wounds. Pearl joined the American National Red Cross to do social service in military hospitals with assignments in Texas, Japan, Vietnam and Fort Sill, OK.
After graduation in 1965 with a BA in Sociology from Oklahoma Baptist University, Pearl joined the American National Red Cross to do social service in military hospitals with assignments in Texas, Japan, Vietnam and Fort Sill, OK. They lived in many different places including 2 tours in Germany and moved over 15 times in 25 years.
Pearl and their sons Louis, Charles, and Casey have accompanied Bill throughout his military and civilian careers. Bill’s hobbies and interests include competitive skeet shooting, hunting, dog training, running, motor home traveling, gardening, and fire arms repair.
Bill and Pearl live in their RV around 200 days a year including spending the winter months in Biloxi, Mississippi. Bill spends a lot of his time with his gun club and Pearl likes to visit the Casinos. They have 3 sons and 7 grandchildren. Louis and his family live in McAllen, Texas. Chuck and his family live in Coming, Arkansas. Casey and his family live near them in Milford, Kansas.