William Jackson

William Jackson was a man of great character who fought passionately for the causes he believed in. He was not one to sit idly by and simmer about what he would like changed within his world, rather he sought answers and set out to put these solutions into motion, greatly impacting both the lives of numerous others and the community in which he lived. Bill overcame much hardship during his younger years, although growing from these challenges at the same time, and worked hard throughout his life to build a successful career and business as well. As much as his contributions to the world around him leave a lasting legacy, it will be his passionate heart and generous spirit that will be so greatly missed. When referencing the year 1919, the signing of the Treaty of Versailles is often brought to the forefront but it was also a time in which President Woodrow Wilson was serving his second term in office and liquor was legally outlawed for United States citizens. It was also in this year that in Iron Mountain, Michigan, J. Gordon and A. Elizabeth (Anderson) Jackson were celebrating the birth of their son, William Gordon, on April 22nd. Bill was the oldest of four boys in his family and his father worked as a construction engineer while his mother was a teacher. When Bill was five years old, his family moved from the Upper Peninsula to Florida where his father tried to find work. Times were tough there and their family moved around a bit until Bills father could secure a job. Bill experienced tragedy early in his life with the death of his mother when he was just 10 years old leaving him to help his father raise his younger brothers. Later that year his family moved back to Iron Mountain where times werent really any easier as these were the days of the Great Depression. When Bill was 12, his father placed his sons, including Bill, at the Goodwill Farm, a facility that housed and fed young children who were orphaned or had single parents. While there Bill continued to look after his brothers which including having to engage in fistfights in order to protect them at times. By the time he reached high school, life again changed for Bill. His father had remarried and so he took his boys back into his home. During high school Bill became interested in chemistry, was on the debate team, and participated in school plays and even sang too. He also kept busy outside of school mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and distributing the Saturday Evening Post in order to earn some extra money. Bill graduated in 1937 as the salutatorian, earning a modest scholarship to the University of Michigan. He attended school at the university while returning home in the summers to work. Bill graduated from the University of Michigan in 1942, and then went on to graduate studies at the University of Illinois. While there he worked on a number of government projects during WWII including developing a new antimalarial drug for the troops. Of the greatest significance during his time at the University of Illinois was Bills introduction to a young lady who would forever change the course of his life. Her name was Kathleen Kay Swingley and although she was initially dating someone else, Bill was persistent in his pursuit, eventually winning her heart. After dating for a time, the couple fell in love and was married on October 2, 1943. They settled into an apartment while she finished her undergraduate degree and Bill finished his graduate studies. After receiving his PhD in chemistry in 1946, Bill took a position as a synthetic organic chemist with the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo. In 1959 he decided to leave Upjohn to become a partner with Orel Burdick in Muskegon. They went on to form Burdick & Jackson Laboratories in Muskegon where they manufactured purified solvents. Bill moved his family which had grown to include son Lee in 1953 and daughter Elizabeth in 1956 to North Muskegon. During the companys early years Kay handled the clerical duties, but they eventually grew to employ nearly 40 people. In 1977 Bill sold the company, but continued to consult for the new owners until he retired in 1988. Life was not all about work for Bill, however. He was an avid sailor who first owned a 27-foot boat called the Dipip, and then a 34-foot boat called the Nightrain. They were active members of the Muskegon Yacht Club and spent many of their free moments on the Muskegon Lake during the summers. Even while relaxing on the lake Bills mind was hard at work as he observed high amounts of contamination caused by various industries on the lakeshore. Bill formed a group called Save Our Lakes and began educating the public on the dangers of pollution. This group eventually joined another group called Save Our Shoreline and successfully prevented a steel mill from being built in Muskegon. After he retired, Bill had more time to pursue the things he really enjoyed. He loved traveling with his wife and together they took cruises and spent their winters in Florida. Bill also became involved with securing a research vessel for Grand Valley State University to be stationed on Muskegon Lake. He made a rather generous donation to spear head a fund drive to launch the effort. The university honored Bill by renaming the vessel the W. G. Jackson, a permanent exhibition of Bills passion for the community lakes he cared so deeply about. Bill also received several other awards as well including the 1996 Muskegon Area Environmental Making Waves in Muskegon Lifetime Achievement Award. William Bill Jackson was a hard working man who was driven by his desire to make things better in the world in which he lived. He was a successful businessman who was also a dedicated family man. Bill loved sailing and was passionate about preserving the lakes he treasured - encouraging countless others to do so as well. Although life was not without struggle for Bill, he overcame his challenges to greatly impact the lives of many others within his reach. Intelligent, strong, and compassionate, Bill was a man who was so easy to love. He will be dearly missed by those he leaves behind. Dr. William "Bill" G. Jackson died Wednesday, October 7, 2009. Bills family includes his wife of 66 years, Kay; son, Lee (Sally) Jackson of FL; daughter, Elizabeth (George) Gray of Muskegon; grandchildren, Josh Gray, Nicole Gray, Jeremy Jackson, Lee Jackson; great grandchildren, Tyler Jackson, Fox Jackson, Blake Gray, Jayden Gray, Hayley Jackson; brother, Gerald (Thelma) Jackson of FL; sister, Dr. Ann Wood of CA; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Robert and Joseph. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 29th, 2009, 3 p.m. at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home Muskegon location Muskegon, MI, with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to the W. G. Jackson Research & Education Vessel Fund - Community Foundation of Muskegon County or Alzheimer's Association.