The members of the Area 11 2002-2004 Board established the Ring of Fame to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the art of Handbell/Handchime ringing. This award is intended to recognize and honor commitment to handbells based on exceptional service to Area 11 of the Guild, the Sub areas, and/or to Handbell/Handchime ringing in general.

The RING OF FAME award was first presented in 2006 to honor four Area 11 people who had gone “above and beyond” in their service to the Guild and especially to Area 11. In 2008 two outstanding Area 11 people received the award. The award may be presented every two years at the time of the Area XI Festival/Conference.

His passion for handbells is contagious and he constantly encourages people to be ringers. He does whatever he can to support bell-ringing. And he is a huge supporter of AGHER!”  These words describe Dr. William Wood who has been active in the handbell world for over 30 years. In 1980, he started a youth handbell choir at First United Methodist Church in Portales, New Mexico, with a second youth handbell choir to follow in 1981. In 1982 he added a third choir, this time for adults. He gradually expanded the program from two to five octaves of bells, added two octaves of handchimes and eventually added a second set of handbells and expanded to four octaves of handchimes. He took his youth and adult handbell choirs to state, Area 11, and National Festivals for many years. They would do concert tours while traveling to these events and often presented solos at the festivals.

At Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, Dr. Wood organized and directed a handbell choir for approximately twenty years. His groups appeared in School of Music General Recitals each semester and played for occasional worship services and spring handbell concerts at First United Methodist Church in Portales. In 1993 he organized the Eastern New Mexico Fall Handbell Festival and in November 2009 held the 17th Festival. In 1999 he retired from Eastern New Mexico University.

Bill Wood has been active in the Guild and Area 11 leadership. From 1989-1993 he served two 2-year terms as Area 11 Secretary/Treasurer. He served as the Area 11 representative to the Guild National Board from 2000-2003. He served on the board when the National Board adopted the Carver Governance system, and was a member of the Nomination Committee for the first set of board members under the new governance system. Bill has six published handbell arrangements one of which is “All American Hometown Band”, one of the Guild’s most popular pieces. He has also written handbell-related articles for The New Mexico Musician and Overtones, the official Guild publication. He has presented numerous workshops at Area 11 and Guild events and at the New Mexico Music Educator Association All-State Conference. Being a retired music educator, he enjoys teaching various classes at festivals – especially change-ringing.

Bill and his wife Ruth, who is also an excellent ringer, have 3 grown children. They love to travel, and have recently enjoyed a trip to Europe. He has been a long-time organist at First United Methodist Church where he also teaches a Sunday School class. He also finds time to be an active member of Kiwanis International.

Read more about Bill in remembrances from colleagues, friends, and ringers.

Read more about the award and find out how to nominate someone for it here. Check the nomination form. See what information is needed. Think ahead to 2012 when there might be someone YOU would like to nominate.

Gail Downey describes Bill as a "fine, dependable, reliable friend and colleague. I was lucky enough to serve on various Area and National Boards with him over the years. He was always the voice of reason and common sense when others were "running off" in all directions. I have nothing but the highest regard for him as a musician and I am honored to call him friend."

Lin Bobo says "I really didn't know Bill Wood very well until I got to fill a vacancy in the Las Campanas group at the First United Methodist Church in Portales, NM. Since then I have developed a great admiration for Bill, for his musical talents, for his ability to bring out the best in people and for his willingness to do what it takes to produce an excellent performance. Bill always displays these qualities of a good leader along with perseverance, good humor, and a lot of patience - especially on those days when things aren't going too well in rehearsals. I'm happy that he is receiving this award in recognition of his accomplishments and proud to call him a friend."

Jan Smartnick says "Bill was the reason for my involvement in handbells. I loved to ring but was music director at another church that did not have bells. He encouraged us to find a way to purchase chimes - which we did - and the group was organized. We dedicated our first "chime" concert to Bill. Since that time, the group was able to raise the money to purchase 4+ octaves of handbells and lots of music was enjoyed." Sadly, that group is no longer in existence but the bells are now located at the Methodist church and we use them as additional bells. Obviously, Bill's passion for bells is contagious and he constantly encourages people to be ringers. He has had youth choirs and he also directed a bell choir at Eastern New Mexico University. He does whatever he can to support bell-ringing. And he is a huge supporter of AGEHR!"

Carolyn Deuel remembers that "Bill was on the planning team for the 1990 Area Festival in Casper, and I was happy to get to visit with him during one of the times he was here. What a kind and talented pillar of the handbell world - and, I'm sure, of anything in which he is involved!"

From Doug Benton, "Bill and myself created the AGEHR Mission Statement: "The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Inc., is dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community and communication"; which is still in use today, at a small table in the lobby of whatever hotel we were in at the Nat'l Board meeting in Dayton, Ohio, whenever that was. (Monica probably remembers - she remembers everything!!!) It seems to me that Bill was attending in place of the Area XI Chair. Bill, amongst his other great gifts to the Guild and the Area, should be remembered for co-authoring the Mission Statement for the Guild."

And from Monica McGowan: "I had to look up my notes from previous Board Meetings. The Mission Statement was crafted at the Jacksonville, Florida meeting in February 2000. Doug and Bill probably decided it while they were eating at Hooters……., :-) The Vision Statement was crafted at the Newport Beach, California meeting which was held in November, 1996. I was in the group with Marilyn Kielniarz that worked on that:

• "We are people united by a musical art. We share a single passion: the love of music expressed through handbells and handchimes. As the national organization devoted to this medium, we articulate our vision for the future.
• Our greatest asset is our membership. It is one which reflects the diversity of contemporary society. We will listen and respond to the needs of the membership and pledge to act as responsible stewards of the gifts and resources placed in our care.
• We place the utmost value on the role of education at all levels of our organization. Our educational experiences are inclusive: for all ages, background and interests.
• As the principle voice for our artistic medium, we continually review and define musical standards.
• We seek partnership with colleagues who support our ideals.

In meeting and working with Bill Wood while we were all on the National Board, he invited me to conduct the Eastern New Mexico Handbell Festival in November 2002. I am glad that our work together on the National Board and all those meetings resulted in such an opportunity to participate and experience his Eastern New Mexico Festival and hospitality. Hopefully one of you will recall when the Eastern New Mexico Handbell Festival began and all the work that Bill has done over the years to make that such a successful event for that part of your Area. I recall at the National Board meetings, we could always count on Bill to cut through all the chaff and get to the point or get us back on track. And he always did it in just a few, well-chosen words!! Congratulations to Dr. William Wood on his selection as a recipient for the Area XI Ring of Fame Award. Please convey my heartfelt congratulations to him!!"

Jennifer Baca says, "I've been ringing bells under Bill's direction for about 11 years now, I think. When I first started ringing, I remember being very nervous. I didn't want to be called on by Bill to "re-do" measures that I wasn't playing right. He was always nice about it though. Now eleven years later, he doesn't call on me as much…I'm hoping that's a good thing. I think it is. Bill is one of the reasons why I love handbells and why I keep going back every semester."

Cindy Teel Stone says, "I began ringing bells with Bill almost 30 years ago. We had a large amount of ringers in three different groups: beginners, advanced, and adult groups. Even with the diverse groups of ringers, Bill managed to take us on several different tours and trips to district festivals. One of my fondest memories is dressing up like barbershop quartet singers and ringing "All American Hometown Band." We had hats and red, white and blue plastic vests that would occasionally zing when we damped our bells on them. Bill has given his ringers so much more than memories of states traveled and the satisfaction of learning that challenging part. Bill has shared with us his life and his passion for music, for this I, along with so many more of his ringers, am eternally grateful. Thank you, Bill for a lifetime of loving music.

And from Beverly Baugh: "I have rung with Bill's Las Campanas Choir since 1982 when his choir was first organized!!!