Lunch with Rotary District Governor Bill Grile

Bill began his Rotary journey in 1995 as an obligatory Rotarian when more or less directed to join his local club as an expectation that accompanied new responsibilities as the town’s city manager. “I never wanted to belong to any service club,” he recalls. But it didn’t take long for him to experience the satisfaction and personal rewards realized from fellowshipping with like-minded neighbors and community leaders committed to making a positive difference at home and abroad.

At the 2011 D5110 Conference in Coos Bay, Bill and PDG Bob Kings raised $15,000 for The Rotary Foundation by allowing their heads to be ceremoniously shaved by PRIP Ray Klinginsmith and PDG Jim Lussier.

Bill was raised in the Midwest and graduated with degrees in geography from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin and Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He and his wife Linda live in Coos Bay where Linda is founder and CEO of South Coast Hospice. They have four adult children and seven grand-children, all living in Oregon. They enjoy time with family, their two Yorkshire Terriers, a cat named Thunder and maintaining six tropical fish aquariums at home.

Bill has served as President of the Coos Bay – North Bend Rotary Club and Springfield Rotary Club. He was an early graduate of the D5110 Leadership Academy, was Sgt. at Arms for the D5110 Conference, chaired the D5110 Rotary Friendship Exchange Committee, has served as Assistant Governor and D5110 Trainer, is a Rotary Leadership Institute Facilitator, and has served on many committees.