He followed the proud example of Alan Shepherd, first man to step on the moon with NASA who said, "Many people say we cannot land on the moon, but I say we can land on the moon, and we must do it and I want to be the man to do it."

All America watched Alan Shepherd take that big step for mankind and Bill Strickler  in his own way was taking a big step for the property rights and due process millions of Americans needed.

He had dedicated himself to watching his wife Raylene complete law school...his eyes lit up with stars when she entered the lunch room on Capitol Hill to meet us briefly. He was the caretaker for their three young children so Raylene could be free to hit the law library...

His journey was near an end on planet earth and hers was just starting. I had the privilege of watching a destiny end one mission and start a new one.

I left Tallahassee with a new hope and deeper peace because that visit was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Bill's comments on the Bill he guided me through remain on my computer for inspiration. He did the job that had to be done and he steeled himself to survive the introduction of the Bill and Raylene's Law School.

Mark Twain once said, " I was born when Haley's Comet arrived and I shall leave when Haley's Comet returned and he did.

Bill planned to remain until Raylene could close the books and be ready to practice law and he went into a coma the week she finished school...he's off on his own Comet in the space program he worked for, secure in the knowledge, Raylene was now prepared to take over the helm and sail the ship he was too tired to steer.

I wish you well, Bill, in sailing through the Milky Way and I wish you an exciting journey in your new dimension where earthly ills like chemotherapy do not exist.

Einstein told us earth has many dimensions in time and space we aren't strong enough to see, but my faith tells me we will meet again in spirit in one of those spaces that will open to us in the other dimension.

I don't know what new door you will open for me and all of us, but I do know you will do it your way and no detail will be overlooked in your brand new vehicle.

Happy journey, fellow, and thanks for everything, I owe you.

Willow Vance 

       Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Many people walk through your life but only a few friends will leave footprints on your heart, " and I am blessed to find footprints from one more friend stricken by illness, Bill "Strickly Strickler".
       When I agreed to meet him in Tallahassee for a day at the Capitol to meet Dr. Gema Hernandez and the Office of the State Supreme Court Administrator,  I did not know what to expect from this man listed as the Capitol Chair of FSHL , who was such a stickler for the most trivial detail many people were afraid to submit anything in writing to his critical eyes.
        Then I realized he retired from NASA's space program, in a background of science and that put his personality in perfect perspective.  When the NASA documentary was shown again recently, the host pointed out exactly what motivated our friend Bill to drive people up the wall with changes...
          "Discovery" has over one million parts, "the NASA director explained, to break down and every single one of these parts must be kept perfect at all times because there is no escape if something goes wrong."
          Bill had the glory and the agony of being part of this program that stamped a warning in every cell of his being that anything less than perfection could bring disaster..and in some ways it did because when we failed to identify with his mission he became frightend and pulled away.
           At this moment our friend is hooked to life support machines without signs of life because his adult son by a first marriage insists they can't let our scientist go peacefully into the stars he worked with so fearless, even though he has no signs of earth life.
            I am sending a sincere prayer he be released because love is letting go and this strong spirit was already so disabled when we met in Tallahassee for an exciting day talking to the lawyer in the Supreme Court and touring the Elder Dept etc. I commented to friend Joan Pfleuger on my return, " His face turned so blue mounting the capitol stairs and trying to locate his car- his breath was gasping so hard I was in fear he might collapse on the way back- this is a Captain going down with his ship."
         He introduced me to his first mate, and reason for hanging in there,  student wife Raylene who was winding up law school while he kept the ship afloat.  Raylene completed her law school exam for the waiting exam so her Bill can say, "Mission accomplished with a broad smile."
             On April 11, of this year, Gordon Commee and I set out one morning on a new trip to Tallahassee to meet Bill at the Capitol on FSHL business.  It was not to be.
              GMC let us down. Gordon's truck blew a head gasket that stranded us in Gainesville with a dealer hungry for out of town tourists to make his day and his extended insurance warranty that doesn't extend anything but grief.
               Hours of sitting in the customer disservice waiting for estimates of estimates made us too late to meet with FSHL, except for Bill. He gave us a rain check for the next morning and friend Joan Pfleuger gave us bed and board for the night to lick our wounds.
               Bill had to search for words. His thoughts were not always connected with the scientific mind he had trained so long.  The finely tuned engine had a wiring shortage in circulation that warned us appreciate each moment-time is of the essence.
                My Indian brothers and sisters tell me when it is time to go the owl calls your name. I left with the sad though that the owl was going to call Bill Strickler's name but happy the scientist who enjoyed his work so long would once again be free of earthly disease to function 100% among the stars he loved so long.
                 He gave us some big footsteps to fill and we should all remember how many miles he covered before his ship went down, and salute the discovery of friend, Bill Strickler with the hope his first mate Raylene will find a ray of sunshine in happy memories and passing the Bar! 
                  His greatest gift to me was the personal visit in the Supreme Court with the lawyer who is clerk of the court and his preview of Supreme Court plans to make courts more user friendly and affordable for the average citizen.
                   Now if that doesn't light up the darkness I don't know what it will take because the judicial system has been hopelessly bleeding us so long-- when I heard that news straight from the horses mouth the sky lit up like a rainbow after the worst storm and all I saw was golden light.
                  Way to go Bill, the sky is the limit.
                   Willow Dean Vance