William I. Mercer

Bill was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota February 19, 1937 to Raymond and Dorothy Mercer. He moved to Los Angeles with his family at an early age, where, beginning in elementary school, he formed several close friendships - a tight knit group, later to be dubbed “the Ambassadors” - which continues to flourish to this day. After attending Dorsey High School, Bill joined the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Sergeant and roll of drill instructor, a passion for which never left him. Bill married his high school sweetheart, Judy, in early 1957.

Following service to his country, Bill joined Monogram Industries, a world-class manufacturer of transportation sanitation systems. He quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being the company’s senior international salesman. While in Europe, his devotion to duty, recognized by a close friend and business associate, led to his Knighting (hence “Sir William”), in the Asociación Belgo-Hispánica. Retiring after 47 years, Bill had “seen the world.”

Bill was a gifted and passionate golfer, having numerous tournament victories under his belt. Indeed, his golf interest bordered on obsession. After retirement, he took a job at Los Robles Golf Course, distributing buckets of balls in exchange for free starting times.

An exceptional and charismatic leader, Bill was always willing to aid, encourage and guide others. He truly touched the lives of all who knew him. Bill was that rare type of person who would help anyone in need and, if he considered you a friend, he would give you the shirt off his back.

Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Judy; three children - Brent, Donna and Brian; nine grandchildren - Thomas, Douglas, Jennifer, Jeffrey, Emily, Michael, Sara, Kimberly and William; three great-grandchildren - Lily, Elijah and Wyatt; and his faithful dog Madeline. He will be deeply missed.