Wilma Bain and others

William H. Bain received his bachelor’s degree in education from Northern Illinois University in 1958. Bill joined Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, because it emulated the principles and purposes of the Boy Scouts of America. After briefly teaching in Lansing, Illinois, Bill entered graduate study in 1960 at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and concurrently served in a leadership role in counseling services. He was recruited to the Chicago campus of the U of I in 1967 and began a distinguished administrative career. He held many top leadership positions in admissions, records, student information, and auxiliary services. Bill had the unique distinction of having served as an administrator at all three U of I campuses: Urbana-Champaign, UIe, and the Medical Center. Active in scouting as a young man, Bill, who became a life scout, served as an adult leader when sons Bob and Scott were active in scouting. His commitment to scouting kept him busily involved in district activities over the years. He also served as a member of the Lombard-Villa Park United Way and held a leadership position with his church. He was truly “a man for all seasons”. Bill married Wilma Presnell, also a 1958 NIU graduate. He died September 10, 2009 after battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pancreatic cancer. In addition to Wilma, she is surrounded by two sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren.