Bill Summers

1933 - 2016

Frank "Bill" William Summers



Bill Summers, 83, passed away peacefully in Tallahassee, Florida on August 12, 2016. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida on February 8, 1933 to Frank Wesley and Kathleen Gilreath Summers. He is survived by his wife Lorraine of Tallahassee; son William Wesley Summers of Avondale, Arizona; sister Annette Graddy (James) of West Palm Beach, Florida; three nieces and three nephews, and many friends.



Bill grew up in Jacksonville, Florida where he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. After attending Jacksonville University for two years, he came to Florida State University, graduating in 1955 with a BA. He served in the United States Navy in its Taiwan Command from 1955 to 1957. He then attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey earning a MS Degree in Library Science. In 1969, he returned to Rutgers and earned a PhD in Library Studies.



Bill had a long and distinguished professional career. He served as Library Director at the Cocoa Public Schools in Cocoa, Florida; Assistant Director at the Providence Public Library in Rhode Island; the State Librarian at the State Library of Florida; Dean of the College of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University; and served on two occasions as interim Library Director for Strozier Library at Florida State University. He engaged in research in his field and served as a consultant in the United States and internationally. Locally, he served as a member of the Library Board of Trustees for the Leroy Collins Leon County Public library and on the citizens advisory committee for construction of the new downtown public library.



During his career, he received many honors and recognitions and served as a leader in the national library community. Among his achievements were service as President of the American Library Association; President of the Association of Library and Information Educators; President of Beta Phi Mu International Honor Society for Library and Information Science.



Among his many honors, he was recognized for his achievements with the prestigious Joseph W. Lippincott Award by the American Library Association for a lifetime of extraordinary dedication to the field of librarianship. Rutgers University, College of Library and Information Studies recognized him as its Outstanding Alumnae. He was a member of the Beta Phi Mu Library Science Honorary and ODK Leadership fraternity.



The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Pisgah United Methodist Church, located at 7000 Pisgah Church Road, Tallahassee. Interment will be on Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 12:00 noon at Keystone Heights Cemetery, Keystone Heights, Florida.



The family wishes to extend its appreciation to the staff and nurses of Westminster Oaks Health Care and the staff and nurses of Capital Regional Medical Center for their compassionate care of our loved one. A special expression of appreciation is given to Sylvia and Ken Peacock for their devotion and support of the family.



In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the F William Summers Professor Emeritus of Library and Information Studies at Florida State University fund at The Florida State University Foundation, 2010 Levy Avenue, P.O. Box 3062739, Tallahassee, Florida 32306.