William H. Truex Jr., 1937-2022, Lake Champlain Chapter & 2022 Boat Show Co-Chair
On April 10, 2022, ACBS and the classic boat community lost a true friend when Bill Truex of Burlington, Vermont, passed away. Bill was passionate about boats and ACBS. Over the years he served not only as a leader within the Lake Champlain Chapter but also on the ACBS International Board. He was very proud of of his role in adding the France Chapter to ACBS during his tenure. Most recently with his close friend, Gene Porter, Bill spearheaded getting the ACBS International Boat Show to Burlington, and for the last four years (with multiple postponements due to Covid) Bill worked tirelessly as co-chair to make the 2022 show extraordinary. We will miss not having Bill at the show he dreamed about in September, but we will honor him there! Below is Bill’s obituary and links to a couple of articles written about Bill and his achievements in his hometown.
Bill Truex died peacefully on April 10, 2022, with his devoted wife, Jill Williams, at his side.
Bill was predeceased by his son Eric T. Truex in December of 1978.
He is survived by his family: his wife, Jill C. Williams; and his son Scott A. Truex, his daughter in-law Lisa D’Arrigo, and, proudly, his two granddaughters, Siena Truex and Sophia Truex, of Crested Butte, Colo.
Bill moved to Burlington in 1966. He sought a place where he could help raise his family, commit to community, and practice his profession, architecture, in a meaningful and successful fashion. He never looked back, and he died feeling his mission was accomplished to the best of his ability, though he wished he could have accomplished more.
Bill was made a Richard Upjohn fellow of the AIA in 1992 for his contribution to the profession through service on the institute’s board of directors, and he was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows by his peers in 2001. Bill retired from TruexCullins and Partners in March of 2007.
Recently, he had been serving as co-chair of the Lake Champlain Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society’s Steering Committee, assigned with the responsibility of setting up and implementing the hosting of an international annual meeting and boat show for the ACBS, to be held in Burlington in September of 2022.
A memorial gathering celebrating Bill’s life will be held on the Lake Champlain waterfront in Burlington this summer, with a location and date to be determined by the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Champlain Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, Inc., c/o Susan Haigh, 105 Whipple Rd., South Hero, VT 05486.
I had the pleasure of working with Bill on the ACBS board for several years. He was a true gentleman, a ‘class act’, and will be missed.