Bill Heywood passed away January 4, 2012, in Scottsdale,
Arizona, after a celebrated, lengthy career in Valley radio.
Bill's illustrious broadcast career spanned 50 years. His
smooth, iconic voice nurtured and entertained generations of Arizonans. Bill
held the rare distinction of hosting a top-rated show for five decades in one
market, and was subsequently inducted into the Broadcaster Hall of Fame in
2004. Even with all the fame, Bill remained kind and humble, dedicating a large
portion of his time to charitable causes.
He was born William Embry August 12, 1936, in Newton,
Kansas, an only child. With a mother who travelled extensively, Bill began
living permanently with his grandparents by the age of 10. Grandma Hahn, a
staunch Catholic matriarch, ensured a well-behaved upbringing by enrolling Bill
as an altar boy. Bill played basketball from an early age and also gravitated
to the music he found on the radio and at the nearby Ray's Jukebox Restaurant.
Bill attended Newton High School where he formed a rhythm and blues singing
group known as the "Polka Dots," where he was the lead singer. The
group made it through some auditions and eventually on to the network show,
"Ted Mack's Amateur Hour."
As high school concluded, Bill made "All-American"
in basketball which gained him acceptance to a number of universities. One of
the many scholarships offered him was to play basketball at the University of
The Pacific (CA), which he chose "because they had a fine art
department."
Though Bill was on a basketball scholarship, his real hero
was Don Sherwood, who broadcast out of San Francisco. It was at this time that
Bill and his first wife Shirley had their daughter, Kelly. Bill returned to
Kansas after graduation, where he started his first radio job at KSOK in Ark
City, Kansas. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1961, and was offered a job at
KPHO, beginning his long, successful broadcast career in Arizona. (He changed
his name to Heywood in 1968.)
In the 1970s and 1980s, he was the morning man for KOY
Radio. During that 14-year run, he was named the Billboard Magazine
International Disc Jockey of the Year. He also lent his vocal talents to
KTAR-AM and a morning program on KFYI-AM. Bill loved being an entertainer.
He loved his audience more than his bosses. He was
irreverent in a time when one didn't have to be cruel or crude. He was that
soothing voice often called "Sweet William in the morning", that told
you each day "is gonna be a good day…or at least a hoot." "Bill
Heywood is to Valley radio what Johnny Carson is to national TV," was an
often used phrase to describe Heywood to Valley newcomers.
While Bill's career had always been radio-based, his
diversity was as strong as his talent, leading him to jobs as a spokesman for
Mel Clayton Ford for a record-setting 30 years, the host of PBS specials, the
voiceover for national infomercials, and the emcee for numerous local charity
and business events.
Bill and his wife, Susan, founded the successful Scratch 'n'
Sniff Awards, a non-profit organization that granted donations to pet therapy
programs and awareness of animal abandonment.
While never hanging up the microphone, Bill added real
estate to his repertoire in 2003, partnering with the Cambridge Team and
specializing in the luxury market, most recently the Montelucia development in
Paradise Valley.
Survivors include his daughters, Nicole Heywood and Kelly
Wopershall; sons Stan Embry and Chris Heywood; and grandchildren Courtney
Patterson, Nicholas Wopershall, John Embry and Eric Embry.
Bill never forgot his roots and remained a small-town boy at
heart, always courteous and concerned for others. He and Susan enjoyed their
succession of small dogs over the years, funny movies, jazz and blues music,
dinners out or ordered in: Susan was the first to say that she rarely cooked.
Bill Heywood will be remembered as a consummate entertainer
and a gentle, caring husband, father, and friend. He had a sparkling wit that
was never mean, always meant to bring a smile.
A celebration of the Heywoods' lives will be held at 4 p.m.,
Jan. 14, at the Arizona Biltmore Grand Ballroom, Phoenix.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heywood
Memorial Fund to benefit animal charities, c/o Spirit and Word, or to KJZZ,
Tempe, AZ.
