RIP Dr Bill Headley

My former GT comrade Bill Headley passed away earlier this week. Country doctor. Naval aviator. Engineer. Eagle scout. Tech Grad. Braves Fan. Husband. Father. Son. Friend. Follower of Jesus. Bill will be missed.

When I got involved at the GT BSU there were upperclassmen to look up to. Role models who helped disciple me in Christ. Fred O. John Rose. Mike Jackson. Dave Stewart. Doug Kleppin. Wayne Price. Wayne Smith. Charles Vaughn. Charles Houghton. Steve Hawkins. Big sisters like Mary Deaton and Joy Sager.

The guys in my class were like brothers: Jeff Yearwood. Warren Hammonds. Brett Freemon. Keith Harp. Mike Kirkland. Don Sells. Don Lott. Jeff Summers. Sisters like Sharon Langley, Patty and Wendy Caudell, Patricia Coulson. Jane Lane. Lynne Sawyer. Linda Tyus. We lived life together: studying, worshipping, sharing meals, playing board games, attending Tech games, BSU conventions, mission trips.

As the years passed, newer freshmen came in. They actually looked up to us, some like little puppies. Younger brothers. Jim Johnson. Billy Brundage. Chip Brown. Dave Travis and brother Greg. Curt Shaw. David Conley. Paul Sprayberry. Darrell Frahm. Dean the Mean. Doug Pace. Phillip Stalcup. Ken Kopetke. Eddie Parker. Paul Morris. And tall, slim Bill Headley, from Newnan, Georgia.

Being Naval ROTC, Bill would often appear in his dress whites. Great posture. Bill never dressed the slob, as many of us college guys did. His family ran Headley Construction in Newnan, and were upstanding citizens in the community. Later younger brother Mitch joined Bill at Tech. Once Bill took us down to have a meal with his family in Newman.

One of my favorite memories of Bill was when he would break into a German accent, exclaiming “Ich bin hungrig” or some other statement. Bill wasn't athletic or dynamic, but he was a good friend and sidekick. Everyone liked Bill.

As with many college pals, we lost touch after Tech. Bill matriculated into the Navy, then med school.  There would be occasional updates. Then reunited via the magic of technology: social media.  

In recent years Bill was one of my few friends who followed me on Twitter. So did his wife Keri. So I knew I couldn’t stray too far from my Georgia Tech roots. Bill would share and comment on medical posts. He described himself as a “recently retired solo practice family medical doctor. Non-traditional student. Electrical engineer from Georgia Tech. Eagle Scout who raised three more. I love Jesus and my bride”.

His pinned tweet, a quote from Tim Keller:

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and fully loved is what it means to be loved by God.”

I worked out this morning at the gym. Then gassed up the car, then went to vote. Back home by 8 am to work. Need to cut the grass and trim hedges. Will get to take naps. I think.

Interview with Bob Uecker. 

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/one-on-one-with-brewers-legend-bob-uecker__;!!AE29DT8V!VomtPVUAv3Ji0Ln6cc6LDZoztH_Y_vRfmnf_12L1iNwi6sztpXjFadFR-M3VRwfNMxcVuEJED5TJMLmL8Qo$