An Engineer’s Engineer
The Passing of an IEEE Icon

I first met Bill Terry at the New York Section executive meeting in 1994. At that time Bill represented the New York Section on / and Chaired the Region 1 Awards Committee. Within the New York Section, he handled the bylaws and other activities. He was a member-at-large par excellence. I had been recruited to serve as the New York Section Awards Committee Chair. This is the traditionally path to the position of Chair. As Awards Chair I worked closely with Bill. Bill at this time was and had been for many years the Awards Chair of Region 1. Bill asked me to assist him at the coming Region 1 convention in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Bill convinced me to go based on the promise of a fabulous outdoor steak barbecue. It was everything he said and more. I think it was one of the greatest events and it proved to be my introduction to the innards of the IEEE. The best event of the year and with unlimited steak, corn on the cob, beer, and Bill’s companionship it proved to be a special event. Sturbrige is about 4 hours outside of New York City and is noted for a replication of and original colonial village: Old Sturbridge, a restored 18th century community. Bill convinced me that my young wife and I would have a great time and he was right; but he had no idea of what we would bring back with us. The training sessions were the first I had seen, as I was Bill’s guest and not quite into the executive committee workshops everything was new to me. I watched Bill, as he was mentor. Bill arrived and was surrounded by the most active group of engineers I have ever seen. They were there to see him, consult with him, gain his advice, and counsel. Bill’s court began upon his arrival and continued though out the weekend. He had the support of the executive committee and caucused with his Awards committee prior to the presentation of his report. I was impressed with the respect he received; but was not surprised based on the work in preparation he had done prior to the meeting. It was his intent that every nominee receives the award designated. He would, as he did with me, work tirelessly with the person preparing and submitting the award to insure that it was complete, correct, documented, and representative of the very high standards of the IEEE. The record shows that he joined the IEEE on January 1, 1928. Imagine 70 years of service. Bill left this world on July 12, 1998 at the age of 91. He wanted to present awards to deserving member engineers; but not those lacking credentials. He wanted to recognize achievement because it would improve the IEEE and he would insure that the awardees was qualified and the documentation prepared irrefutably. Bills efforts were not limited to just one committee or one activity. The scope and breath of his efforts are hard to comprehend. He worked tirelessly for the IEEE and still had time for community activities like couching a little league team. In recognition the Wilton Little League field bears his name: William Wells Terry Field. He is a family man and has three sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. I never quested where he finds the time for everything for he always seemed to have unlimited energy. He had the support of a very loving a caring wife, Jane. He set for me an example of family of tender, affectionate, and exemplary relations. I have met and spoken with Jane, his spouse, who is as independent as one could imagine and yet together they made a team. The relation is of mutual support; the reciprocal caring, love and devotion they shared impressed me. Bill held all of the offices in the New York Section, including Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Chair and Chair and headed many committees including Admissions, Advancement, Awards, and others. His work was recognized with many awards, not to mention the IEEE Centennial Medal, NY Section Distinguished Service Award, Region 1 Award and others. I guess I should have known him from his work at Con Edison; but this was before I joined the company. Bill worked as an overhead transmission design engineer. I am not sure where his major effort began, was it in the Power Engineering Society (PES) or in the New York Section Executive Committee? What ever he will be remember for: his gift of communication in an open clear fashion, his passion for the IEEE, his ability to communicate in both technical and human terms or his ability to involve others in his work and in the IEEE it will be for me a small part of the real person. It is for this and many other reasons that I call Bill an Engineer’s Engineer, a remarkable man, a leader in his communicate, a practicing engineering and to me a very special and dear friend.

Michael Miller
Vice Chairman, Chapter Operation

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