Bill Rushing graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi in 1960 and did three years Postgraduate work at Vanderbilt University. Hired by the Corps of Engineers in April 1963, he served as Assistant Program Manager for the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program until he was transferred to Washington, DC in 1987. He retired from the Corps in 1995 with 32 years of service.

Bill has been a member of the Aquatic Plant Management Society since 1972. In 1975, he was elected to the Board of Directors and served as President in 1980. In 1982, the offices of Secretary and Treasurer were combined and Bill was elected to the post. He ably served the Society in this capacity through 1994 when duties were again split apart into separate offices. During this period, it fell upon Bill to coordinate registrations and hotel arrangements at the annual meetings. He and Gloria Rushing, his wife and right-hand volunteer, formed a well-organized team, handling the majority of meeting logistics starting with the opening of registration to the closing gavel of the final Board Meeting. In recognition of Gloria’s contributions to the society, she received the “President’s Award” in 1991 shortly before her death in 1992.

Bill has been a staunch supporter of the goals of the society for the past 25 years. He has long demonstrated quintessential good grace, loyalty and leadership during lean times and good, both professionally and personally.