About the Author

My father instilled in me an interest in my family history. Genealogy, especially genetic genealogy and DNA research are in my blood.

Email Bill

404-229-3070

Biography

I grew up in Wildwood, a small railroad town in Sumter County a small rural county in North Central Florida. Received my initial electronics and computer engineering education at the University of Florida. Married and had three children with Joan. Lived in cities around the US: Seattle, Chicago and Atlanta. Moved to Georgia 40 years ago. Joan died in 2015.

Family

I live with my lovely wife Nancy. We were married in 2018 and still claim newly-wed status. I have three children and four grandchildren living in the Atlanta area. Nancy has two children, a son in Duluth GA and a daughter in Ft. Myers FL.

Education

  • Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, University of Florida
  • Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Washington
  • Master of Business Administration, Executive Program, University of Chicago

  • Master of Business Administration, Health Executive Program, University of Chicago

WORK HISTORY – WILLIAM B. HARRISON JR

Hobies

Internet bb research and teaching engineering/technology subjects.

The use of conventional and genomic genealogy to research, seek, and collaborate with new-found DNA cousins, and to document my family history.

Career

Designed, developed and installed digital data and control systems for testing Boeing’s commercial airplanes. Worked with Lockheed Martin on modernization of avionics and other systems on the C-5 Galaxy military transport airplane. Served the State of Illinois health and welfare agency resolving administrative, technical and management issues. Provided data systems design and processing services for businesses, hospitals, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other healthcare providers. Taught computer, business, mathematics and electronics at DeVRY and Georgia Piedmont Technical College.

Organizations

  • Registered Professional Engineer, State of Georgia (PE)
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • IEEE International Board of Directors, IEEE-USA Board, and USA Region 3 Director
  • Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
  • Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
  • Rotary International – Decatur GA Rotary Club

More About Me

I grew up in a railroad town in North Central Florida, Wildwood. That’s where you leave I-75 and get on the Florida Turnpike if you want to go to Disneyworld in Orlando. Railroading is in my blood.

I took things apart and tinkered with electronics. I built crystal radios and became a ham radio operator in my teen years. Technology is in my blood.

I have always wondered how to divide my time between friends and my technical pursuits. Being with people is in my blood.

Learning new things and getting a formal education have always been important to me. Education is in my blood.

Early in my career I was an airplane engineer whose job was to test the Boeing Company’s large commercial airplanes.  Big airplanes are in my blood.

I served a stint in public service in the State of Illinois Governor’s welfare agency. I had an opportunity to observe our three-branch form of government from the inside. Representative government and how it operates on our behalf are in my blood.

Where I Live

I live at Park Springs, a Continuing care retirement community near Stone Mountain, Georgia.