William D. Middleton

How have passed ten years since your passing? Passed quickly as good years are want to pass. All remains well here at the University Continue your rest in God´s good care.

While I didn't know Bill Middleton personally, he was a major influence in my life. From a young age, I read his books and articles about railways and public transit. Later, I realized that he was a military officer, as well as a civil engineer, and I was and remain impressed by his accomplishments in those fields. When I later became a Naval Reserve officer, and came to know members of the Navy's Civil Engineering Corps, I would always ask if anyone knew Bill Middleton. A surprising number did know him, and spoke highly of him--thus I came to have almost personal knowledge of a man whom I will remember with great admiration. Fair winds and following seas, Commander William Middleton.

Bill Middleton will be remembered fondly by his many friends here at the University of Virginia for his dedicated care of the University of Virginia's buildings and grounds. He was an outstanding manager and a very nice man.

From Dick Laurance...

I have nothing but great memories of Bill Middleton as he was a superb role model of what a facilities management officer should be. He was a natural goal setter and leader as well as a great humanitarian and mentor to many. We first met in September of 1964 as he was the executive officer of the Naval Mobil Construction Battalion 11 and was my first boss in the Navy. His first action was to send me to an embarkation school in San Diego, California, which was anything but my first choice (I was not ready for more school as I wanted a work break). As fate would have it, and because of his decision, I met my wife of 45 years at the school and I have thanked Bill many times for his great wisdom.

The next spring in Okinawa, on a very short notice, he assigned me and my staff to load ships for an amphibious landing in Vietnam. After 36 hours of loading the ships, we were assigned to develop more ship loading plans for a second group of ships. After a total of 48 hours, I met with him and he said you are now off to Vietnam. Finally, we would get some rest on the ship and for sure the school paid off and the mission was exciting and enjoyable.

He was the keystone of the battalion obtaining the 'best of type' award in the Pacific area in 1965. His paper work and control of the operations of the battalion wowed the inspectors. While there are many more stories of Bill's success in the battalion, he showed all of us an intense desire to make us the best in all that we did. We were so grateful for his leadership.

We met again some 23 years later, when we talked on the phone and he said there might be a fit at UVA for me. Fortunately, it worked out and we moved to Charlottesville soon afterward. He was right again. When we got to UVA and I walked into his office, his desk was loaded with file folders of all of his action items. He looked the same, except no uniform, as he did 23 years prior and his desk also looked identical to 23 years prior. He said UVA was exciting and similar to the battalion and a lot of hard work was required, just like the battalion. He was right again.

His assignments that he gave me were always challenging and professionally rewarding. He set a standard for CFOs that raised the bar so high that it remains hard to beat. Ask anyone in APPA.

I was so very blessed to have known and worked with Bill Middleton as he was both my professional mentor in the Navy and at UVA. He will be missed by everyone he ever met and particular those he mentored so well.

Mrs. Middleton,
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Mr. Middleton about his published book on railways. To work with him and many others at the UVA Physical Plant (now Facilities Management) was such a rewarding experience. God bless.