Colonel William A. Lyell, Sr.

            Colonel Retired William A. (Wild Bill) Lyell was born in Waco, Texas in 1923.  He was 93 years old.  After graduating from high school in 1940, he went to work at the post office in Washington, D.C. in 1941.

            Bill entered the Army Air Corp in 1943 and graduated as a pilot in single engine fighter aircraft and served in that capacity until discharged in late 1945.

            Upon return to civilian life, he worked for the post office inspection service and pursued a musical career at radio stations in San Antonio, Texas as a singer and guitarist.

            He was recalled to active duty in the Air Force at the outset of the Korean War in 1950 and was a flight examiner and instructor pilot in single and multi-engine aircraft and helicopters.  Bill had a long association with helicopters.  He served as a helicopter instructor at the Air Force school for 6 years.  He was the helicopter instructor for the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Curtis Lemay.

            He was commander of the “Doomsday” squadron, the helicopter unit designated to move the president, his family and staff to the emergency locations of the White House.  He was the commander of the 56th Rescue Squadron, Tripoli, Libya and of the 40th Rescue Squadron, Udorn, Thailand.  While there he participated in the Son Tay Raid – an operation to rescue our prisoners of war in Vietnam.  He furnished all of the aircraft and two of the crews for this operation.  Altogether he spent 31 years in the military service.  He was Director of Combat Operations at NKP, Thailand.

            Bill led an interesting life.  He was a crop duster pilot, a cut man for professional boxers, a race car driver – he said he always had a close set at the race.  He flew the helicopter scenes in the movie “Flight From Ashiya” starring Yul Brenner and Richard Widmark.

            After retirement he resumed his musical hobby as an accompanist at fiddle contests.  His wife, Stephanie, eager to become a part of his hobby, began to play the fiddle and they participated in contests all over the United States.

            Eventually Bill became nationally recognized as a guitar accompanist, playing on over 50 albums, tapes and CDs with many of the professional fiddlers active today.  Bill credits Pat Hopson of Mound, Texas as his mentor as a guitar accompanist.

            Bill is survived by his wife, Stephanie; son, Bill Lyell, Jr. of Abilene; step-daughter, Helen Xenos; one grandchild, Sean Talamini; a sister, Martha Gadel of Waco and numerous nieces and nephews.