Today’s Rotarian was born in Greensburg, PA. His father worked for Canada Dry, and they lived in several steel towns in Ohio as well as Mobile, Alabama. His father was severely injured in the Battle of the Bulge. He recovered fully with no regrets. His family moved to San Antonio, TX in 1948. He graduated from Alamo Heights High School home of the Mules in a class of 149 at age 16 having skipped 8th grade.
His first jobs were at age 8 when he shoveled snow for ten cents a walk and when in high school mowed lawns with a push reel mower for $2.50 a yard and baby sat for fifty cents per hour.
Bill Loyer attended Dartmouth College and majored in International Relations. He then got an MBA from Dartmouth's Tuck School, receiving his MBA at age 21 and joined the Air Force as a lieutenant. He became a base procurement officer. In his off hours he taught at the Business College of Youngstown State University. He left the Air Force in 1960 after 3 years.
After the Air Force he joined Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY, as a sales trainee. Based in Billings, Montana his first territory consisted of Wyoming including Yellowstone Park, Montana, and much of North Dakota. He called on Ludwig Photo in Laramie where he met Carol Ludwig, and after five dates he proposed over the phone. They married in 1963. Carol was adventuresome. She was one of the first women to climb Devils Tower, and was on the UW rodeo team as well as the ski team. She had many diverse interests including her art, her poetry, horses, archeology, and Western history.
They moved to New Jersey for Bill’s career at Kodak. But Carol missed Wyoming, so they moved to Cheyenne in 1966 to run Ludwig’s, which included a new photo processing laboratory that processed hundreds of thousands of photos a month. Bill was a national officer in the industry Photographic Trade Association. They ran the business until 2000 when Bill turned 65.
Carol and Bill were married for 50 wonderful years. Carol suffered from MS that first appeared in her late teens. She bravely managed the disease during her entire adult life. Their family eventually included daughter Anne, and three grandchildren. They traveled extensively and enjoyed many personal and professional friendships. Carol passed away at age 72 from cardiac arrest in Bill's arms.
Bill joined Rotary in 1966, he was sponsored by Attilio Bedont. Bill was Club photographer for the weekly COG. His most memorable times were introducing his daughter, Anne Brande, as the program speaker. Bill continues to serve Rotary as a Sergeant at Arms.
Bill’s other interests include Masonry, the Presbyterian Church, travel, photography, and western history. He ran for the Legislature several times. His family still owns a ranch south of Laramie near Virginia Dale, Colorado.
His favorite food is steak, mashed potatoes, and apple pie. Bills says that God has been very kind to him and his family.
Please join me in honoring our Rotarian of the Week, Bill Loyer.
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