Alumni Spotlight
Major Bill Cole ’61: “Much of what I have accomplished in my lifetime can be traced to my time at The English High School.”
Major Bill Cole ’61, represents West Point at college recruitment fairs.
Major Bill Cole (USA Retired), a member of the English High School Class of 1961 remembers, “Although I was not the best student, I was taught discipline as a member of the Trick Drill Team under Captain Bob Fisher. Years after English High, I remember while marching with the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, I met Captain Fisher and reintroduced myself to him. I saw tears in his eyes as I and several other English High grads who were marching that day crowded around him. At that moment, I felt I came full circle.”
The Dorchester native thinks his “lousy” grades resulted from when he transferred from a private school in the 9th grade and then to English High in the 10th “I was so far ahead of my classmates, I was bored.” Just as the majority of English alumni have been the children or grandchildren of immigrants, Bill is the grandson of immigrants; his mother had Latvian roots, his father had Lithuanian roots.
After graduation from English, Bill attended a junior college for one year before joining the National Guard. Right after basic training he became an instructor on 81mm mortars. Upon his return from basic training, he entered Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant Infantry at the young age of 20. His last duty assignment was as the Command Safety Officer at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, known as Natick Labs, the food and clothing research laboratory. Bill retired from the Army as a Major after 24 years of service, He now volunteers as an Admission Officer representing the U. S. Military Academy at West Point.
In 1966, Bill took over his father’s company, a safety equipment firm, after his dad passed away. Bill became a Registered Professional Safety Engineer. During this time he stumbled upon the Channel 2 Auction, bidding and winning a couple of Monster Mania Magazines. Soon after was born his new company, Bill Cole Enterprises, ‘The Preservation Professionals’ manufacturers and distributors of supplies to protect paper from turning yellow. Bill smiles as he says his motto “We protect what you collect.” The company manufactures archival quality Mylar® sleeves for comic books, magazines and sports cards. (https://www.bcemylar.com/) Today, Bill is ‘A Professional Comic Book Grader.’
But among Bill’s bigger accomplishments: His Son Matthew graduated from West Point and his daughter Pamela is a Lt. Commander in the U. S. Navy. His daughter-in-law Katy is a full Lieutenant in the US Navy. The Army Major jokes, “Of course there’s one day a year when I will disavow any and all knowledge of my girls,” Bill says. “The Army-Navy Football Game. ‘Go Army! Beat Navy!”
He gives special credit to his wife Nancy with whom he recently celebrated their 52nd anniversary: “I have to thank my beloved wife for all her help, understanding and encouragement without whom I could not have done and accomplished so much.”
Bill and daughter Pamela Foss, U. S. Navy Lt. Commander aboard the U. S. S. Constitution marking his 50th anniversary as a member of the Major General Henry Knox Military Masonic Lodge of Massachusetts.
Bill offers advice to today’s EHS students:
– Pay attention
– Do your assignments
– Ask for help if needed
– Seek advice of teachers and alumni
– Consider alternatives to college such as the military or vocational school
– Always have an after-school job and/or volunteer in the community.
“Kids today are much smarter than we were,” Bill says. “But I wish schools would once again teach Civics, the study of the rights and duties of citizenship.”
(Left to right) Bill’s daughter Lt. Commander Pamela Foss, wife Nancy, daughter Ariana, a graphic artist, and daughter Jill, an event planner.
The day after he retired from day-to-day operations of his company, daughter Jill said “Dad, You have to go back to school.” That’s when he started auditing classes at a local university. Actually, I am busier now in retirement than when I was working. You never stop learning.“ Bill can be reached at bcole@bcemylar.com.
