William R. (Bill) Bird is retired after spending many years emersed in the world's greatest profession. In a personal note he indicated that rather than list past accomplishments, awards, commendations or accolades, it is better to state that retirement is a happy one filled with the knowledge that his work - like that of all Park and Recreation Professionals - will be around for many years to come.
Bill graduated with a degree in landscape architecture from Texas A&M University in 1951. From 1951 to 1960 he was active in the design and administration of the park systems in Wichita Falls and Odessa, Texas. In 1960, Bill joined the Park and Recreation Department, Metropolitan Dade County, Florida, as superintendent of parks and recreation, and in 1966 he became assistant director for parks and recreation. For a few years he left to help build a new town, Miami Lakes, with the Sengra Development Corporation, for whom he served as senior vice president.
In 1975 he returned to Dade County first as Director of General Services and then as Director of Parks and Recreation. He retired in 1993 from the latter position after 16 years of service. During his time as director, over $134M in capital improvements were completed, more than doubling both active and passive facilities. The department added over 50 new parks and at his retirement was considered the sixth largest park system in the United States. On three occasions beginning in 1979, the department won the National Gold Medal awarded to the outstanding park and recreation department in the country, a truly outstanding achievement. The department also won numerous awards from the National Association of Counties.
Bill served a number of professional organizations including NRPA, the Florida Recreation and Park Association, the National Association of County Park Recreation Officials, and the Dade County Youth Fair. He has personally received a number of awards including a special citation from NRPA, the National Association of County Information Officers Award of Excellence, and several awards from NRPA through the National Arts and Humanities Awards program. He also received the Pugsley award for outstanding contributions to professional park and recreation management, NPRA's Distinguished Professional Award, and the FRPA Outstanding Service Award. Over his career, Bill made numerous presentations at professional meetings throughout the world and contributions to professional publications.