William graduated from Morgan Park High School in 1969 and attended the University of Illinois, majoring in Chemical Engineering, and, after realizing that was not his calling, Technical Theatre. In 1971 he left Urbana and entered the world of work, but he eventually pursued his BA at St. Xavier University, Chicago, receiving a degree in English literature, 1976. He received a fellowship at Western New Mexico University, and earned an MA in Literature, 1978.

During the course of his education he accidently acquired a knowledge of a little known computer programming language, and has parlayed his limited experience into a career in data processing, first, with I.P. Sharp and Associates, Chicago, Dallas, and Denver; then United Cable Television, Denver; Sears, Roebuck, and Company, Chicago; Ryder Truck, Miami; and Allstate Insurance, Northbrook, IL. He is now a Computer Archeologist specializing in APL.

Throughout his professional career he has never lost his love for literature, and has had two one-act plays performed at the Chicago Dramatist Workshop in 1995. In addition, he has worked extensively in technical theatre: as the stage manager for the first ever play at the Beverly Arts Center; as Technical Director for original productions by playwright Nancy Krist; at lighting and scenery designer for productions of the Writers Theatre of Chicago; as Technical Director for two years of productions at McHenry County College; and as set and lighting designer for the Town Square Players at the Woodstock Opera House.

Please visit my Home Page at http://user.mc.net/~cherokee