William "Bill" Walsh Sr.

1939 - 2022

William "Bill" Walsh, Sr.
Born: January 29, 1939 in Ottawa, IL
Died: October 26, 2022 in Ottawa, IL
William J Walsh (Bill Walsh Sr), 83, of Ottawa, IL passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at Pleasant View in Ottawa. He was born January 29, 1939 in Ottawa, IL the son of Thomas P. and Louise I (Rude) Walsh. He married Phyllis A Kobold on July 18, 1964 at St. Columba Catholic Church in Ottawa.
Bill graduated Marquette High School (Ottawa) in 1957 he then graduated from the University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL), where he received a scholarship for track, in 1963.
Bill was the owner and President of the Bill Walsh Automotive Group from 1963 until his death. He built the business from a single Dodge dealership at 304 W Main St in Ottawa, where he joined his father in the business after completion of his military obligation serving in the US Army, to a 26 franchise, 7 dealership business including sales, service, parts, body shop, rental and leasing operations and a separate accessories company, located in Ottawa, Peru and Streator, IL. He also owned and operated Atlantic Dodge in St. Augustine, FL which was later sold. If there was something with a motor, Bill would be the first person to look into representing the product in his market. Over the years he represented PUCH mopeds, Miles Electric Vehicles, GEM Electric Vehicles and the MOKE British classic electric vehicle plus franchises that were discontinued by the manufacturers including Plymouth, Mercury, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, Geo and Scion. He was named Illinois Automobile Dealer of the Year in 1982, Time Magazine Quality Dealer in 1982 and was a frequent speaker for several years at the National Automobile Dealers Convention. He received the National Dealer Education Award from Northwood University and the Retailer of the Century Award from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Bill was on the General Motors Cadillac Division National Dealer Advisory Council from 2000-2007 and was on the GM President's Dealer Advisory Council from 2000-2006. He was also on the Chevrolet Division Advisory Council where he served on the National Executive Committee, National Chairman and Great Lakes Regional Representative. Bill was also the President of the Buick Dealer Advertising Association. He also served as the Co-Chairman of the Chrysler Dealers Fundraising Campaign for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Bill also represented Chrysler dealers during the Chrysler Loan Guarantee in 1980 where he testified before the US Senate Banking Committee on the impact of a Chrysler bankruptcy on Chrysler dealers in rural America. Bill served on Lee Iococca's personal advisory committee during Mr. Iococca's entire term as Chairman of Chrysler Corporation. He was also on the National Dodge Dealers Advisory Council where he was National Chairman and was the National Representative for the Chicago Zone. Bill was also on the Dodge Dealer Advertising Association and served on the National Executive Committee as a Director and as National President. He also served as a Director on the Chrysler-Jeep Advertising Association. Bill was proud to be one of the founding members of the National Automobile Dealers Association Dodge I 20 Group in 1974.
Bill spent his life building the Bill Walsh Automotive Group. Nothing made him happier than to be with the wonderful people he worked with and to be IN the dealerships every day. He attended the daily morning management zoom meetings up until the week before his death. Bill was a consummate advocate for automobile dealers and was a nationally known and respected spokesman for the automobile industry. He was tenacious about success and making his business the best it could be. He surrounded himself with an unequaled team of talented and compassionate people that shared his love of the 'Car Business'. As Mayor Bob Eschbach said at one of Ottawa's State of the City addresses, 'If they really wanted to find Osama bin Laden, all they needed to do is tell Bill Walsh bin Laden was looking for a car. Bill would have found him!'
Bill also served on the Board of Directors of The First National Bank of Ottawa for 37 years (1977-2014) where he was a two-time Chairman of the Board for both First Ottawa Bancshares, Inc and The First National Bank of Ottawa. His tenure was the 7th longest period of service in the Bank's 157-year history. He served under the tenure of five different presidents providing his wisdom, leadership and business acumen.
Also, locally, Bill was active in many community affairs. He was an Ambassador of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, where he received the organization's highest award, the Leo Parkerson Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a long-time member of the Ottawa Noon Rotary Club and former director of the Ottawa YMCA. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Ottawa Elks Lodge, the Loyal Order of the Moose, Ottawa Boat Club and the Deer Park Fishing Club as well as the Marquette High School Foundation and a past host of the Marquette May Merriment fundraiser. Bill was a stable fixture of the St Columba 5:10 Saturday Mass usher legion along-side his brother, Tom. He also was the founder and partner in re-opening the historic Zeller Inn restaurant and bar in Ottawa, known for the popular 'Nooner' lunch specials, with partners Boyd Palmer and Gene Rich.
Tennis was one of Bill's many passions and he was one of the dealers that represented Chrysler Corporation in the Chrysler Pro-Am Tennis Tournaments in 1985, 1986 and 1987 where he played against and alongside tennis greats like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. He was also one of the founders and original, and most avid, members of Court One Indoor Tennis Club in Peru, IL.
Another passion was animals of all sorts and sizes. He was a longtime patron of Pet Project in Ottawa and sponsored the Bill Walsh / Pet Project Pet of the Week in the local newspaper. Bill is shown from a very early age with horses, ducks, dogs and his pet goose (the name of which he would never reveal).
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis (Kobold) Walsh; dog, Granny, Ottawa & Austin, TX; son, Bill Walsh Jr, (Margaret DeRemer) Ottawa; daughter, Jeanne Walsh, Austin, TX; brother, Tom (Peg) Walsh, Ottawa; grandchildren, Tripp Walsh, Chicago, Jack Walsh, Washington, DC, and Peter Walsh, Oxford, OH; a niece, Kathleen Walsh Sutton, Indianapolis, Greg Walsh, Chicago, Tim Walsh, Middleburg, VA and Patrick Walsh, Ottawa.
A private service was held on November 2, 2022 at St Columba Catholic Church with arrangements by Mueller Funeral Homes, Ottawa. Pallbearers were Bill Walsh, Jr, Tripp Walsh, Jack Walsh, Peter Walsh, Greg Walsh and Tim Walsh.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorials may be directed to The Child Welfare Guild, PO Box 456 Ottawa, 61350, Pet Project, PO Box 163, Ottawa, 61350 or the donor's choice.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433