WILLIAM A. MACNEILL

I would not be where I am today if not for Bill MacNeill. Bill taught me important lessons about fairness, hard work, friendship and teamwork. He was an amazing friend, who taught me to not curse the darkness but embrace my life and seek solutions. Bill wasn't warm and fuzzy. He was interested in results and that was fine with me. I earned but he also rewarded me with my first big break in sport. His belief and confidence in me have energized and fueled me my entire life. This is how I...

I remember being told that Bill ran the Boston Marathon as a High School student at Boston Technical. Back then the Boston Marathon didn't have the 30,000 participants that it does today, more likely 600-700 participants. But the 600-700 were hard-core runners. These were people that trained year round and likely most days were laughed at for running in their "underwear". Regardless on Patriot's Day, they ran from Hopkinton to Boston preserving the tradition of the World's oldest and greatest...

It's not possible for me to celebrate Memorial day without thinking about Bill MacNeill and President John F Kennedy's 105th Birthday. All that I have learned about meritocracy, fair play, equality, courage and country, I learned from Bill. He demonstrated to me that if I worked hard and I achieved then I should have faith and confidence in myself. That it was OK to be proud of myself without conceit. That it was OK to try hard and to be excellent. He was a kind and courageous man and he...

When Memorial Day arrives. I know it is time to remember my friend Bill. Bill taught me three lessons in particular. 1. Friends are the people most committed to a goal. 2. Discipline can defeat injustice. 3. Never quit. I had the pleasure of being with Bill for many hours in High School and College. He was a great mentor, teacher and coach. I know of no finer men than my Dad and Bill MacNeill.

November arrives and I think about the impact that Bill had on my life. Particularly now in an (this) election year. I think about the good things I learned from Bill and all the ways that I sought to emulate him. Bill was always eminently fair. He was also the truest of true patriots. And willing to back up his words with action(s). Bill was dedicated, trustworthy and cared about people. To have Bill on my side was a great honor for me

JFK once said that the definition of happiness as defined by the Greeks was "The full use of your powers along the lines of excellence". Bill was someone that sought for excellence in all his students. I was a young sophomore in the Fall of 1963 and Bill was my government teacher and my X Country coach. After JFK's assassination, we all looked for the meaning in such a tragic event. Bill was as shaken as all of us, but like the North star there was a path in Bill's head back towards...

An email from Legacy.com reminded me that the 6th anniversary of Bill's death was soon. I hadn't forgotten since I pair Bill with President Kennedy whose birthday is also Memorial Day weekend. Bill was my History teacher and X-Country Coach on November 22,1963. His faith in me and later his trust and friendship became huge motivators in my life. When other men faltered Bill surged and persevered. He was then and still remains a role model for me. I was very fortunate to have him for a friend...

For many years Bill MacNeill was instrumental in my life. I would see him often at the Stop and Shop in Cohasset usually there for two gallons of milk. I would have to smile and slyly think...."now Bill you know what it is to be one of many... the father of nine or more children"... I had lost count... like my Father, Bill was a patriarch of 11/12 and a rock. I can't add words to Bill's legacy, no one can. To count Bill as a dear friend and a role model is legacy enough for me. Thank you Bill...

Recently I was thinking of a woman lawyer friend who was assasinated in Iraq the day after International Womens Day (March 9,2004). That thought caused me also to think of Bill. When I think about the fine,noble,wonderful and brave people I have known in my life, Bill rates Number 1 among the men. It's been almost 4 years that Bill's been gone but in my mind he is timeless. He is still part of my life.
I was once told by a friend that I had an "over developed sense of justice" I didn't...