I'm trying to make some order of individuals that I write about it and have decided to do it by association to who I have written about so far. With that in mind I wanted to share some of my experiences with Bill Alexander.
Bill is a man's-man. There is no one that can doubt the manliness of Bill. He's a former Air Force vet that has so much manliness that others grow into men just from association. So it only makes sense that he would serve as a young men's advisor. I had him as an advisor when I was a Deacon; he served with Doug Baker then and also with the Teachers Quorum later on in my life. As a Deacon I remember Bill mostly giving lessons - we were always really reverent on the days he taught, probably because we figured he'd discipline us really well if we broke the silence. He spoke quietly which forced us to have to be quiet if we were going to hear and you didn't want to get caught not paying attention. Bill's son Justin came into the quorum 2 months after I joined. In our earlier years Justin and I weren't friends at all, associates at best until after the week long activity at camp Whiting.
Back to Bill, he married an amazing woman, Karen, who was always so kind and positive towards us boys and so supportive of anything her husband and sons did. I had joined a summer track club in my 7th grade and because I was so lousy at so many things track related they made me a hurdler. What this means is that I wasn’t a good sprinter or a distance runner; with hurdling they could get me working on my "form" so I had something I could improve in. Since it was a summer league I didn't have to be that good to go to competitions and so I would typically go to anything I could. My parents were pretty busy with trying to make a living and raising all of my sisters; because Bill had both of his youngest boys on the same track club he'd usually give me a ride to everything. I honestly was so grateful for all of his efforts to make sure I had a ride and was made to feel welcomed to everything – I started to feel like I was abusing the relationship as no one had ever been so kind to me before. As I attempted to not take advantage of him in my adolescent way I told him I wouldn't be going to the next track meet. This seemed to trouble him and he tried to find out why until I finally broke down under his sincerity and admitted that I had no reason not to go. I was always appreciative of his nonjudgmental support in my success (and failures at attempting to succeed). Later on in high school with some amazing coaches and a lot (and I mean A LOT) of practice I got more competitive and actually won a lot of races. Bill was usually in the stands supporting his son(s) and would take me under his wing and give advice and talk “shop” with me.
At camp Whiting Bill would set a nice pace and make sure that no one would fall behind. He practiced shadow leadership (along with Doug) and really let us kids learn from making mistakes.
My first activity as a Priest was a Grand Canyon New Years Eve campout. I had flown home from baptizing my brother Alex in Oklahoma, packed, and then we went straight up to the canyon. Incidentally jet-lag caught up with me as I was waiting at Dan’s house . . . when I woke up I found that many of the Christmas tree decorations were now hanging on me – I was out!. The trip was awesome, we spent several days down there . . . it was the trip out that I remembered Bill and his steadiness. I was so competitive then, I had to be the first one out. Having an amazing athlete like Justin around made it that much more challenging. I soon faded behind Justin and soon Bill would pass me. He walked so slow I couldn’t believe it; yet he continued to “leap frog” me every time I had to stop from pure exhaustion. I hadn’t considered that he may be hurting too; I just had to beat him and anyone else (I had already given up on ever catching Justin). Bill taught me the importance of knowing your limitations and then respond accordingly. I did end up beating him out, but I was also taught a lesson that saved my life when hiking out of the North Rim (Thunder River) in Oct 2004. I have always been grateful for this lesson. Don’t be in such a hurry that you miss out on the beauty and grandeur of the Grand Canyon, covered in all the glory of the white snow (some yellow snow too left by other hikers . . . ok we contributed too). Same thing in life – don’t be in such a hurry to miss out on the situation that you are in. In fact before my mission on my last Havasupai trip I stayed back with my buddy Bubba (Eric Dillard) and we talked, played cards and took our time getting out – it was one of the most enjoyable hikes I have ever been on in my life . . . and we still left at the same time – when the last hiker got out. I have done a lot of amazing hikes in my life with Scouts (as a youth and an adult), with my Aunt Rachel’s GCC hiking classes, and all are more enjoyable because Bill taught by example. I enjoy hiking more now then I ever could due to his example.
Bill taught me tons of stuff about being a man, being strong, not always having to speak even when you have a strong opinion on something and knowing when to run . . . if you know Bill you don’t picture him running from much but there was this time (and Dan Pennell loves to tell this story) that Bill was hiking in the Superstition Mountains and he got treed by a Bear. Up to that time I assumed that Bill was the type to go ahead and wrestle a bear down and beat him with his bare hands. A man’s gotta know his limitations!
Today Bill continues to be a mans-man, I love to hear his stories of tales and adventures – he has tons of them. He is a true friend, a leader, an example and most importantly he has the spiritual side: a testimony of Jesus Christ and the importance the gospel in our every day lives and the happiness it will bring. Thanks Bill – you are amazing!!
Andrew “wants to be a mans-man too” Brown
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