Bill Dean
The Early Years
Bill Dean was born on January 21, 1935, 15 minutes after his twin brother. Weighing less than two pounds, they did not think he would survive, but his grandfather put him in a wood-burning oven to keep him warm. He thrived and soon caught up to his twin in weight and size.
When he was five years old, his parents divorced. His father put the twin boys in the car and moved to Washington, DC, where they lived with his aunt and uncle for a while. They eventually moved into a boarding house, which was mostly occupied by single men, with only Bill, his twin brother, and two other children. However, in 1942, his father was drafted into the Army during WWII as an MP, so Bill and his brother were shipped back to Maine to live with their grandmother in Orono.
When Bill was 12, his father remarried and sent for the boys in Maryland. There, they had their first-ever birthday party with a Sears bicycle as their first birthday gift ever. Bill loved that bicycle and kept it until he was 17, when he bought his first car, a 1940 Dodge, costing $100.
Military Service
After graduating from Bladensburg High School in Bladensburg, MD, he was drafted into the Army, where he did his basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, SC. In fact, he kept his basic training book, which he continues to share with school children at the Cole Museum. Stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, as an Infantry soldier, he did a lot of walking! Once on maneuvers, at the top of a mountain, where they were digging holes, he uncovered a WWII German machine gun and ammo box. Unfortunately, the officer in charge confiscated and kept it. While there, he met a girl, Lorie Persch, and married her in 1957. They had three
children, who now live in VA, WY, and TX. He served in the Army for three years, from 1954 to 1957.
Returning to Maine
After they divorced, Bill moved to NJ, where he worked in a meat-packing plant until he was laid off, and then he returned to Maine, where he found his mother living in Columbia Falls. What a surprise to learn that he now had six sisters! He lived with them for a while and still keeps in touch with his sisters.
Bill was introduced to one of his brother-in-law’s aunts, Margery Mahan. At the time, she had six children. They married in 1965 and had two more children, Billy and Diane. They lived in Columbia Falls for 25 years. It took Bill two years to find a job, but he finally found one with the Maine Central Railroad, where he worked for the next 32 years. They moved to Bangor in 1985 when the railroad closed its Machias branch. Bill retired from the railroad at 61 years old, and then painted houses until he was 74 years old. Bill has been an active, involved member of the community. In addition to greeting Troops, he volunteers at the Cole Transportation Museum and is an active member of the American Legion, the Korean War Association, and more.
The Maine Troop Greeters
Bill, accompanied by Margery, were among the first to greet the Troops during Desert Storm in the 1990s. They would come to the airport for every flight. After 9/11, they would gather at the four corners by the Bangor Mall on Hogan Road, holding signs to thank and support the Troops. Once again, Bill and Margery attended every one.
In May 2003, Harry Rideout convinced the mayor of Bangor to let them use a room at the airport. From the time the room opened, Bill and Margery almost never missed a flight, day or night. He remembers the ice cream, home-made cookies, fudge, and other treats that people would bring for the Troops. This was when flights were advertised on the radio and TV, and the airport was so packed with people that sometimes it was not possible to even get into the airport! However, Bill and Margery never missed a flight. Bill remembers the high school bands and the famous Sgt. Tillman, playing the saxophone with the High Sschool band.
However, on April 1, 2004, tragedy struck. Bill and Margery had arrived at the airport to greet a flight, but at 5:00 pm, she did not feel well. Despite racing to the hospital, she succumbed to a heart attack.
An integral part of the troop greeters
Bill continued to greet the Troops, day and night. In fact, he almost never missed a flight in all of the years since then, except for one short trip to Florida one year. Bill was not only a stalwart of greeting the Troops, but he immediately became involved with the establishment and leadership of the Troop Greeter organization.
He was one of the founders of the Board of Directors and has been a valuable member of the board ever since. He also volunteered to lead the membership committee for many years. Furthermore, he is always there and ready to help in any way. He is a dedicated, integral foundation for the Troop Greeter organization, a quiet, kind person who is always there for the Troops and his fellow Troop Greeters, always quick with a smile and encouragement, to keep the organization running smoothly. He is also a role model in his dedication to greeting the Troops and making sure that they know they are valued and appreciated
Bill is famous for watching the names of the Troops as they come down the hallway, on the lookout for other “Deans”. He has met hundreds of fellow Deans, bringing a smile to them, learning about their histories and lives, and making them feel special and appreciated
In about 2006, Reader’s Digest did a story about the Maine Troop Greeters and, while there, took some pictures of the greeters, including one of Bill as he greeted the Troops. Shortly after the article was
published, a flight landed, and as they were walking down the hallway, one of the Troops was reading the Reader’s Digest article and happened to see the picture of Bill just as Bill was reaching out to shake his
hand. The Troop’s reaction was one of surprise and happiness as he grabbed Bill’s hand and said, “It’s you!!”.
Bill has probably greeted well over a million Troops, being there for them over the many years, helping in any way possible to make their experience good, welcoming them so that they would not be treated the way the Vietnam Veterans were. Bill is the rock of the Maine Troop Greeter organization, a trusted, respected person who makes the organization a warm, welcoming place for the Troops and the Greeters.