This is a wonderful  award but receiving it posthumously was hard.

From reading the comments of his Ph.D. students and fellow professors, I can see that my classmate at Cedar Falls, Iowa High School grew into one of the most respected persons in his field.  Beyond his academic achievements he also was a great human being who reached out to help others.  I only wish I had such a supportive mentor as a grad student.

He was already doing research as an undergrad at the University of Nothern Iowa and I was a subject.  If I recall correctly, he had us hooked up to a lie detector and was monitoring our responses to pictures of various animals, from vicious snakes to cuddly panda bears. 

Best regards to his family.
Craig McDonald



Some of my fondest memories as a graduate student were made with both Dr. Bill Porter and his lovely wife, De Ann, on our annual with the Boone and Crockett Club. Dr. Porter always made me feel like a student of his own, instilling words of wisdom and encouraging my determination in pursuit of my graduate degree. He was kind. He was also proud; proud of the work he was involved in, but even moreso, proud of his students and collaborators in making big impacts in wildlife management and conservation. It was a privilege to know him. 

Bill was a congenial colleague in FW.  I have happy memories of a holiday party for FW faculty and staff that Bill and De Ann hosted in their lovely home.    I want to extend my deepest condolences to Bill's family and students, and hope that these memories bring you comfort.

Bill, it was an honor to work with you on a number of projects at ESF and in the Adirondacks, and to continue working with you on Boone and Crocket issues once you had moved on to Michigan State.  Most of those projects had to do with raising money, not always an easy transition for someone whose main focus is academics, but you had such good humor, creativity, energy and optimism that working with you was a joy - and usually successful.  Thanks for great accomplishments, great memories and your friendship Bill!

I am honored to be the mom of one of those final three PhD students mentored by Dr. Bill Porter.  He and De Ann were so kind to my daughter as she was so far away from home in a totally new climate. They invited her for Thanksgiving when she’d been too far to travel home her first year. I was grateful to them both and felt such relief that she had an extended family.  My daughter has such fond memories and is blessed to have had the wisdom and guidance of such a great man. I’m glad to have heard so many stories about turkeys, birthday cakes, waffle parties, the cat who lived in the cabin garage, and events in addition to the academic side of her stay.  They honored my daughter’s graduation with a beautiful gathering for our family. My daughter was able to assist with teaching a class and taking on some of the things that Bill needed done in order to devote attention to his family and health. She was grateful to be valued and treasures her time under his wing.  He will live on through his amazing achievements and the love of the people who knew him.

Before Bill joined the MSU faculty, I heard about him from a friend who had known him for decades in New York. My friend told me that we would enjoy Bill as a colleague. My friend was definitely correct! We really enjoyed Bill – and his exceptional wisdom and signature smiles. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts are with DeAnn and the rest of his family. 

Bill Porter was a tremendous mentor to me and his many other graduate students, and I know I will draw inspiration from my time spent at the BCQWC  for the rest of my career. Bill never forgot a significant moment in someone's life and made sure we all celebrated each other's achievements together. Now is a good time to celebrate Bill's achievements, which will live in the academic and conservation legacies he passed on through his students. Thank you for all your work Bill, and God bless. 

I didn't know Bill as Dr. Porter...but as the fellow tall guy who chose to sit in the row with the most leg-room at church.  He and his wonderful wife were the first people who reached out to my wife and I when we started attending .  Their friendship helped seal our decision to become members.  It will come as no surprise to those who knew him from the academic world that he became a mentor as I moved into leadership roles.  The best people always seem to be the ones taken too soon, and Bill was one of the best in so many ways.  I'll never sit in that seat again without thinking about and missing my friend.

I was a Forestry Grad student at SUNY-ESF in 93-94. I took a couple classes from Bill in Wildlife Mgmt. while there. He was one of the best of the best, among many excellent professors. He made us work hard; beyond hard, and we all emerged with a much more profound knowledge of wildlife. He had a huge influence on so many of us, and contributed much to our successes in the forestry and wildlife management fields. May he RIP. 

I was so fortunate to have Bill as my doctoral advisor. He was a wonderful mentor to me and countless others, always offering support for even the craziest of ideas but rooting you firmly in reality at the same time. His home-made birthday cakes and lab gatherings at his log house are now legendary, and made us all feel like a family. We are all so much richer for having known Bill. He will be missed. 

My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.   Although, I never officially had Dr. Porter for any of my classes, I first met him when I had my first job as a  work-study student at  the Huntington Forest Campus.  Working at Huntington was a wonderful experience and it was actually a time when I believe Dr. Porter was first starting to obtain funds to improve the Campus.  It's amazing what the Campus has grown into,  much due to Dr. Porter's efforts.  A wonderful Professor and Researcher and he will be missed by so many. 

Dr. Porter's intelligence was only overshadowed by his kindness. He truly cared about his students and went out of his way to help them succeed. Since taking his class almost 6 years ago, I haven't been able to see a wild turkey without thinking of him! He will be greatly missed by the MSUFW community.

I have the utmost respect for Dr. Porter. I still find it hard to call him "Bill". He was an amazing advisor, always offering the perfect balance of support and independence. He made our lab feel like a family with his birthday celebrations and lab dinners. I will remember him fondly as a one of the greatest mentors, wildlife researchers, communicators, team builders, and professionals. His teachings will live on. With deepest sympathy,

Dr. Porter inspired students in a way that I’ve never seen from another professor. His encouragement and belief in me as a undergraduate student opened doors for me that I never knew existed. Thank you for being a role model, advisor, and cheerleader. You won’t be forgotten. Rest easy, Dr. Porter. 

I did not have the privilege of knowing Bill Porter, but know his son, Ben, very well.  Ben always spoke so highly of his father.  I know Bill will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  May the memories of him bring comfort to all those who loved him.


Bill was incredibly generous with his knowledge and time.  The world is truly a better place for having had Bill in it.  He'll be missed by so many.  

I have great memories of Dr. Porter's class at ESF - it made me feel like a real wildlife biologist for the first time. And my summer at the AEC is one of my favorite memories from college. Seeing Dr. Porter at the annual meeting of the Wildlife Society has been a highlight of the conference the past few years. His influence on the profession was strong and his mentorship of the next generation of wildlife conservationists will continue to leave a positive impression for years to come. We'll miss you Dr. Porter. 

Bill was a wonderful advisor. I have many founds memories of his home-baked birthday cakes, surprise donuts for the lab, and easy conversations about life and ecology in his immaculate office. Always with a smile and encouraging words, he never shied away from a challenge or pitching that next "big idea". He leaves behind a legacy of students and scientists striving to make the world a better place.
 

My husband Guy and Bill were colleagues at ESF for many years and I have fond memories of visiting DeAnn and Bill in Skaneateles and all those fun fish and wildlife BBQs. Bill was always the consummate gentleman. I’m sure he will be very missed by his family and Michigan colleagues. My sincere condolences DeAnn, Brad and Ben. 

Francesca and I will miss Bill deeply.  We enjoyed our time with him and DeAnn, both on campus and at Boone & Crocket Club events.  Thinking of Bill and his lasting impact, brings to mind a famous Henry Adams  quote:
"A  teacher affects eternity, as one can never tell where their influence stops."
Bill will live on in the memories and work of the many students he has taught and mentored.  Our sympathies go out to DeAnn and the Porter family.

Bill was a wonderful colleague.  We worked in different disciplines, but at a pivotal point in my career, he offered such helpful advice that was key in helping me navigate a challenging transition.  Bill was a big thinker, a mentor, and kind - traits that also made him a respected leader in his field.  He will be missed by so many, and my thoughts are with his family.

Our Department lost a great colleague and friend; a truly genuine soul. Take solace in the fact that Bill lives on in all the people he positively influenced during his life. I am one of those.  With sincere sadness...

I am so sorry to hear of Dr. Porter’s passing. I was a student of his at SUNY ESF (class of 2000), and learned so much in his wildlife habitat and population management course. I also have great memories of fieldwork with him at the Adirondack ecological center in the summer of 1999. I worked for one of his grad students that summer and had the opportunity to participate in projects with several of his students at the time. These experiences helped shape my career path in wildlife research. I also recall running into Dr. Porter at the Midwest Fish and Wildlife conferences when I was in grad school and he had relocated to Michigan. It was great to remember the ESF days. My sincerest condolences to the Porter family.

So saddened to hear of the passing of Bill.  I have fond memories of working with Bill in the early days of Wild Turkey research in Minnesota.  Getting a job in the wildlife field was difficult  back in the late 1970's.  I am grateful to Bill for giving me that chance to get field experience.  I retired from the Minnesota DNR after 38.5 years in Wildlife Management and owe my start to Bill.  He will be missed by me and many of my colleagues.

Bob Tangen
Plainview Minnesota

My husband and I met Dr. Porter and his lovely wife De Ann, and were pleased to spend a little time with them, when our daughter was awarded her PhD.  under his supervision. We felt like we knew 'Bill' as we heard wonderful things from our daughter about her experience at Michigan State and his support for her progress through graduate school.  We are forever grateful to him for his kindness and  enthusiasm for wildlife biology and for the support he gave all of his graduate students.  We will also always remember him for his good humor and the fact that the turkeys in Northern Minnesota, behind our house in the woods, are there through his efforts, and remind us of him.  We hope that your family finds some peace and comfort in your good memories, at this time of loss.

Bill will be greatly missed by all who knew him here in the College.  I appreciated him introducing me to our Boone & Crockett partners, and others, early on during my time as Dean and all his support thereafter.  He left a great mark on wildlife ecology and management through his research, but it’s the many hundreds of people he impacted through his mentoring, teaching, collegiality  and friendship that will be his most enduring and proudest  legacy.  

Unfortunately, I do not have the words to describe just how much Dr. Bill Porter means to me but I will try anyway. He was my advisor, mentor, "academic dad," friend, and so much more. He was the reason I came to MSU and he did not disappoint. I did not have much mentorship prior to arriving. As a result, I was extremely grateful to have him and soaked up his knowledge and advice whenever possible. He pushed me to do my best and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. He made me a better researcher, student, leader, and person in three short years. He was there for his students, even during these hard times. I couldn't have asked for a better mentor. He will be terribly missed by his graduate students and rest of the Quantitative Wildlife Center.

Bill was a great guy. In addition to all of his career achievements he was caring, fun, and crazy about his family. I, and many others in Skaneateles, mourn his loss.

Bill was an incredible guy, and I am so saddened to hear of his passing. I was in the ESF grad cohort with Karl, Sam, Nancy and others, but my grad advisor was not Bill. However Bill and I were friends, and he had high expectations for my own wildlife work and was an unofficial mentor and advisor for my grad experience and for my career. We reconnected at TWS conferences and appreciated our similar upbringings and careers. I’ll miss Bill and my condolences to his family and friends on the loss of an incredibly smart and caring friend!

I will always remember when we were live-trapping wild turkeys together for his research projects in Minnesota back in '75-78. Many long, cold hours in straw bale blind with no heat.

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Mr.  Porter.  I never had the pleasure of meeting him.   However, I do have the opportunity to work with his son Ben at Northwestern University.  Seeing the wonderful values and character of Ben, I now understand where they came from.   

May the Lord be always with Mr.  Porter and his entire family!!!  🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Warm regards,

Harry Kraemer
Hkraemerjr@aol.com

OBITUARY

William "Bill" F. Porter

April 27, 1951 – October 23, 2020

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