By Karolyn Gephart
The name Bill Gillespie is synonymous with Boy Scout Troop 442 and hundreds of families whose sons have been impacted by his guidance and support through the youth program.
Gillespie, Friendswood High School Class of 1976, is being honored for his life work in the Friendswood area as a 2023 Distinguished Alumni member. He will be joined by three others being honored at a Distinguished Alumni banquet on October 5 at Golf Crest Country Club in Pearland.
Gillespie himself was a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout and then earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1972. He was in the Top 20 of his graduating class and attended Texas A&M earning a BS in Petroleum Engineering in 1980.
He worked for Getty Oil Company in Lafayette Louisiana as well as the Getty Oil Company Onshore Texas District Office in Houston as reservoir engineer. When Texaco Oil Company acquired the Getty Oil Company, Gillespie worked for them in Corpus Christi and then later for Marathon Oil company in Lafayette, Houston and London (European Business Development). He retired from Marathon Oil in 2015.
In 2003 he became involved in scouting and became a trained Assistant Scoutmaster when his son joined BSA Troop 442. From 2007 to the present he has served as Scoutmaster for the large troop. He has worked with hundreds of scouts to teach servant leadership as well as to serve as mentor towards the Eagle Rank. More than 130 scouts so far have earned Eagle Rank during his tenure. He has led over 80 weekend and 20 week-long campouts.
He served as course director and led scouts in National Youth Leadership Training during two summers. He has personally earned the Wood Badge, an advanced national leadership course open only to scouting volunteers and professionals.
Scouts are not the only groups with whom he volunteers.
Gillespie was serving as Senior Warden of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church when Hurricane Harvey occurred. Two buildings at the church flooded. Gillespie volunteered countless hours making repairs himself and overseeing the efforts of volunteer workers. He tracked expenditures and negotiated with the insurance company, saving the church approximately $40,000.
Gillespie has also served from 2018 to 2021 as one of five directors of the Shepherd’s Nook Charity Resale Shop, including one-year terms as president and treasurer. The Shepherd’s Nook, according to Gillespie, generates about $130,000 profit per year and the funds are donated to area charities as well as offering inexpensive clothing and other items for purchase.
When not volunteering for scouting activities or Day Manager at The Shepherd’s Nook, Gillespie enjoys vegetable gardening, growing fruit trees, woodworking, swimming and world travel.
Gillespie and his wife Mary (Class of 1979) have two children, Amanda and David.
The other three alumni being honored as Distinguished Alumni include Cheryl Bouillion, Dan Gattis and Tony Hopkins.
The event is under the direction of the Friendswood High School Alumni Association. To become a sponsor, or to purchase a table or single tickets, visit friendswoodalumni.org.
