William F. "Bill" Best

William F. “Bill” Best, son of William L. and Florence Y. Best, was born on October 16 at their home in Mt. Savage, MD. He passed away on April 30, 2014 while residing at his home in St. Michaels.

Bill attended elementary and middle school at Mt. Savage, MD and graduated from Beall High School, Frostburg, MD in 1947. He received a B.S. in Education at Frostburg State Teachers College in 1951. He enrolled in Graduate School at the University of Maryland, worked as a graduate assistant, assistant intramural director, assistant baseball coach, and received his Masters of Art in 1966. He later attended several colleges as well as the University and completed an additional 45 graduate credits specializing in Public School Administration. In addition he attended the Superintendent’s Workshop program at Columbia University.

During his career he worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Maryland; taught military classes in emergency medical services at Brook Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas for 18 months while serving two years in the US Army; coached several junior high teams and taught physical education and science at Burbank High School in San Antonio; taught general math and algebra as well as coaching JV baseball and football at Merganthaler Vocational School in Baltimore City. For the next ten years he worked in the Anne Arundel County Public Schools as athletic director, physical educator, coached football, basketball, baseball, and golf, and became an assistant principal at Annapolis Junior High School and Annapolis Senior High School.

In 1967 he moved to Easton, Maryland as a Principal at Easton High School (9/10 Grades) and in 1969 became a member of the Talbot County Central office staff as an Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent and in 1972 became Assistant Superintendent for Administration and remained in that position until his retirement in 1987. During this tenure he developed a personnel operation, established an extensive recruitment schedule, and was instrumental in establishing a fully certified teaching and administrative staff.

From 1987 until 1999 he served as the Executive Director for the Association of School Business Officials for Maryland and The District of Columbia. During that period he established an office in Annapolis fully furnished at no cost to the association and promoted business sponsorships for the organization.

Bill was active in MD Retired Teachers Association; Talbot County Public Schools Retired Employees Association (President for 5 years); Chairperson for The Eastern Shore Tri-County Administrators; Member and Chair of the Maryland Negotiators Association, and held membership in Maryland and National Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; Maryland and National Association Of Secondary School Personnel; and Association of Educational Negotiators. He also served as a Board Member of The Talbot County Mental Health Association, and was a member of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and served on the Board of the Choptank Electric Trust Fund.

He held private memberships in the Annapolis Country Club, Talbot County Country Club, Martingham Golf Resort, The Easton Club, Miles River Yacht Club, Rotary Club of America, and The Optimist Club in Annapolis. He was an avid sports fan and an active golfer most of his adult life and served as President of Easton Club MISGA, and assisted in the development of rules and regulations for several private and public golf associations. He was a three sports letterman for four years at Frostburg State College in soccer, basketball, and baseball. He was honorable mention all south in soccer during his sophomore year.

Bill was very active in St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, St. Michaels, MD. He was a member of the choir, Chair of the United Methodist Men, member of Staff and Parish Relations Committee, Friends of St. Luke’s Committee, Trustee Committee, and Chairperson of the Church Council.

He is survived by his lovely wife Betty Marie, two children Debra Lee Sisson and husband Boyd Sisson of Cosby, Tenn, and a son Craig Russell and wife Teresa Russell of Neavitt, MD, three grandchildren Bryan Leonard, Talia Jade Sisson, Brittany Rose Russell, and great grandson Lyric Ashe. He is also survived by a sister Mary Frances Adams and her husband Thomas of Mt. Savage, MD, brother in law Bill Schenck and wife Margie of Lothian. MD, a niece Marsha Clauson, her husband Michael and nephew William Thomas Clauson of Ellerslie, MD.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in St. Michaels with Pastor Eugene Martin Wiley, Jr. officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be directed to St. Luke’s Church Permanent Maintenance Endowment Fund, 304 S. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD 21663. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral, P.A. in Cambridge.