Billy Green

Bill J. Green, 77, of Camarillo, Calif, passed away Feb. 18th, 2011, after a long struggle with prostate cancer. Bill was surrounded by his loving family and friends. Bill led a truly exceptional life, and will be remembered for his keen intellect, business accomplishments, athletic achievements and especially his kindness and enduring love for his family & friends. Bill touched many lives and will be greatly missed. Bill was born June 11th, 1933 in Hamilton, Alabama and, along with his seven siblings, helped their mother and father run a small sharecropper’s farm. Economical hardships due to the great depression made it difficult to sustain the small farm, and in 1943 the family moved north to Adrian, Michigan, where the burgeoning war economy offered more prospects for employment. Bill attended Adrian High School from 1950 thru 1952, competing in several sports, including tennis. Bill and his high school doubles partner and best friend, Rollo Garrison, were among the top teams in the state. Bill attended Adrian College from 1953-1955, and Michigan State University from 1956-58. He spent one semester abroad at the University of Mexico. He graduated in 1958 from Michigan State with a B.A. degree in pre-law. Bill worked nights in Tecumseh, Michigan during the four years he attended school. The long commute and the late hours he worked left little time for sleep and studying. A testament to his will and determination. He lettered in varsity tennis at both Adrian and Michigan State, including football at Michigan State. He was captain of the tennis teams at Adrian and Michigan State, and one of the better doubles players in the nation at the time. After graduation, Bill was drafted by the Army in 1958, and was stationed at Camp Irwin, California. After discharge from the Army, he remained in California, eventually meeting his future wife, Margaret Furtaw. They married in 1958, and had four children. The family relocated to Mission Hills, California, where they spent the next 17 years raising their family. Bill was a wonderful, loving father, and he dedicated his life to his children. Bill often remarked to his close friends, that his most cherished accomplishments were his children. His first job in California was as a sales associate for JC Penney. In 1960 he began working for Rocketdyne, helping to support the new space agency NASA and its Saturn V moon rocket program. Bill eventually became a technical salesman for Buchanan Crimp Tools, and in 1979 rose to become President. In 1982, Bill was promoted to VP of Control Products, a division of Amerace Corp, a fortune 500 company, and the parent owner of Buchanan. Bill left Amerace in 1984, purchasing Pico Crimping Tools from longtime colleague, Don Smiley. He returned with his family to California, settling back in Thousand Oaks, California. With his leadership and unique understanding of the industry, he successfully guided the company for the next 26 years, until his death. Bill ran Pico during a time when the climate for manufacturing, especially small companies, had become increasingly competitive, as the shift towards foreign outsourcing became the new paradigm for American businesses. Other notable accomplishments included the design and manufacture of an automatic feed crimping system, noted for its sophistication & scalability, and hydraulic crimping systems, first of their type, used extensively by General Motors and General Electric. Bill’s business and personal ethos, also found on Pico’s product catalog, simply stated, “Elegant solutions to complex opportunities”. Bill had many hobbies and passions, including a love for timepieces, carpentry & woodworking, and collecting antique and specialty automobiles. Bill was especially fond of Buick’s, and one of his last projects included a 1940 Buick Special 8, a car he had owned for almost forty years. The car was nearly restored and only recently had returned back to his home. Tennis was one of Bill’s great passions. Many admired his skill and generous sportsmanship that characterized the 60 plus years he participated in the sport. Bill was an extraordinary player, exemplified by his success he obtained during high school, college and as amateur player during the 60s, 70’s and 80’s. After college, there was an opportunity to play professionally, however the nascent, barnstorming league supported few full-time players. Post college, Bill was quite successful as a amateur public player, winning many singles and doubles tournaments in the Los Angeles area during the 60’s and 70’s. He along with several members of his public club helped mentor four young men who would later go on to star in professional mens tennis, Chris Lewis, Tony Graham, Marshall and Bruce Manson. Bruce in fact would reach the top ten in men’s tennis in both singles and doubles during the 1980’s. Few knew of Bill’s medical struggles over the past decade, as his stoicism left little room for complaint. Optimistic and cheerful, Bill was an unyieldingly “half-full”, take charge persona. He experienced significant pain and hardship during his last years, and yet continued to be supportive for others, especially his family. He was truly an unique individual, father and friend, leaving a legacy that will be always lovingly admired and tinctured with awe. Bill is preceded by his wife Margaret and son Billy. He is survived by his son Mark Green, daughter Shelley Green, daughter Susan Toth & her husband Atilla, their children Mackenzie Toth, Alex & Josh Janssen, longtime companion Claudette Michaud, sisters Lorraine Hill and Bobbi Martin, niece Diann Johnson and a plethora of nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. The family wishes to express its deep felt thanks for the years of compassionate and thoughtful care provided by his physician and friend, Dr. Richard Brand, and also to the skilled and warm care he received at St. John’s Hospital through the years. In particular, Dr. Brand and Sister Susan Krawczyk, RSM, CHPN, RN provided much assistance & compassion for Bill during his last week at St. John’s. Memorial services to be provided on March 5th, 11 am by Perez Family Funeral Home, 1347 Del Norte Road Camarillo, CA 93010 Tel: (805) 983-3457. For memorial contributions, the family has designated The Prostate Cancer Foundation, www.pcf.org.