William (Bill) Hecker (1969) - Football

While at R.A. Long Bill Hecker was considered one of the most outstanding football players to graduate from the school. In his junior year he was voted the MVP for the team, received the Star Award, was named the best tackler and was voted on to the 1"t team all-conference as running back. ln his senior year he was Co-Captain of the team, was again voted the MVP, received the Star Award and voted to the 1st team all-conference again as running back (he had 1,200 rushing yards in a nine game season & was the league's leading scorer.) He also received the Longview Daily News Inspirational Trophy.  In December of 1968 Bill was awarded the Rotary Certificate of Fellowship (an educational scholarship).  The Daily News report of the 1968 football banquet ran the following headline: Hecker gains most honors, S.W.W. Conference all star may go down in R.A. Long History as Most Honored Player.  Bill received the 1969 Johnny Hammer Memorial Senior Award as the best all-around athlete in the graduating class. Bill graduated in the top 10% of his class, received a full ride football scholarship to the University of Puget Sound and went on to graduate with honors. After UPS Bill went on to Stanford and received a Masters degree. So not only was he an extraordinary athlete, he was a gifted student as well. Bill went on to have a successful and widely varied work career. He taught social studies and was a head football coach. He owned and operated a weatherizing and insulation company.  He worked for several companies in sales, attaining great success with corporate computer accounts most notably with Microsoft. Bill went on to work for Compaq Computers in the western region of the United States and was the top sales person and set sales records for several years running. He was a dedicated youth baseball coach for many years in the Seattle area. Bill was an active church youth group and Young Life leader. This wonderfully talented and gifted man was taken from us suddenly and unexpectedly on December 29, 2010.