Phoenix Serran Bill Folz named USAC Serran of the Year

This year we honor Serran Bill Folz as the USA Council’s Serran of the Year. A Serran for more than 30 years in the Serra Club of Phoenix, Ariz., Bill has held almost every position within the club including club president, and went on to become governor of District 81. While on the International Board as an area trustee, Bill and his wife, Mary, drove all over what was to become Region 13 and visited all of the clubs.

Today many Serrans in that region talk very fondly of their visits from Bill Folz. After serving eight years on the International Board, he became Serra International President in 1989. During this period he and Mary traveled much of the Serra world, gaining and keeping friends from many countries. In 1993 Bill accepted the position of General Chairman of the Serra International Convention in Phoenix. Based on this experience, Bill wrote the comprehensive Meetings and Conventions Manual, available through the USAC Office, to help future district and regional convention planners in their work.

Since 1999, Bill has been deputy director for Region 13 and in this position oversees District 81, which includes Arizona. At the request of his bishop and with the help of Phoenix Serrans, Bill also leads the Extension Team for his area. The bishop has asked Bill to work on chartering four clubs in his diocese. Thanks to the efforts of Bill and his team, the Serra Club of East Valley was chartered in May of 2002. The Serra clubs of West Valley, Scottsdale, and South Phoenix are now moving forward in their formation. Bill also brings his skill and experience to the USA Council as a member of the Structures Committee.

In his parish, Bill is a lector and Eucharistic minister, and attends daily mass. He is a Knight of Columbus (a former Grand Knight) and a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher. Although retired, he still works part-time at Walsh Bros. Office Environments and serves there as a director. Mary and Bill have been married for over 50 years and have five children and ten grandchildren.

Ramon Jesch, USAC Region 13 Director, says of Bill: “Bill possesses one of those unique qualities of being able to organize, plan, and conduct events without any visible fanfare. I look at Bill as being one of the catalysts that keeps Serra alive, active and moving in the Phoenix area.” And more simply, Dolores de Aragon-Young, former Region 13 Director and current Serra International Trustee, says, “Bill has taught me what it means to be a Serran.” We are pleased and honored to have such an outstanding, dedicated Serran in our ranks. Please congratulate our USA Council Serran of the Year, Bill Folz.

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