I first heard of William Keddie MacPherson in the spring of 1982, when Alan MacDougall told me that he had a friend by the name of MacPherson who was transferring to the Washington area from Langley AFB that summer. He told me what a character he was, and when I got to meet Bill at the Virginia Scottish Games, I was definitely not disappointed. Alan brought him over to the Clan Macpherson Association tent at the Virginia Games, where I immediately signed him up as a member of the Association, and was only too pleased to second his application for the St. Andrew's Society of Washington, DC. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship that continued until his death this week.

Will was first and foremost a loving father. He was devoted to Julia, and I remember the quiet, shy twelve year old whom he used to bring to various Scottish functions. Julia, you have made him a very proud father, and grandfather. That you have children almost as old as you were when I first met you, reminds me of how much time has passed, and for how many years your father was one of my closest friends.

Carol, in you Will found his fulfillment, and the love of his life. The Scot loves his wife, and family above all things, and no ethnic group is more family oriented than a Scottish Clan. That you were a sister Scot who appreciated so many of the same things about the Scottish community was a wonderful bond between the two of you.

Will and I had many things in common, but above all we loved the Clan and the heritage that we shared. Will immediately got involved with the association, and shortly became Mid Atlantic Commissioner, and then Assistant Membership Secretary of the United States Branch. We worked very closely together on a variety of Clan Macpherson Association endeavors, and his support was something I could always count on. Will nominated me for Chairman of the United States Branch at a Council meeting in Cleveland fifteen Years ago.

Will's irrepressible sense of humor added many light moments to sometimes somber and long council meetings. I'll never forget mentioning that something could be a major calamity, to which Will said, "We don't need a major calamity, we have a Major MacPherson in the room." He was much like the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who enjoyed making fun of the pompous,. He also shared Burns love of the lassies, and of music, but I'll get back to that in a moment.

Will and I also spent many hours talking about another hobby we shared, that of railroading, especially a mutual love of steam locomotives. We were both following the restoration of Boston & Maine #3713 at Steamtown in Scranton, PA. Will saw her in service in his youth, but when I finally met the great lady, she was a cold museum piece. In a few years when I see her again on the high iron with a hot fire in her belly, and coal smoke and steam spouting from her stack, I know that Will will be there with me in spirit.

Although Scots as a people are not known for their cuisine, Will was the exception that proves the rule. He was a gourmet cook par excellence, who loved nothing better than organizing exquisite dinner parties, handing out a course for each family participating to bring. He always did the most difficult course himself, and it was always a joy to sample.

But I saved the best for last. Will's love for Scottish music was a joy to all who knew him at any Scottish event. He learned to play the guitar some 20 years ago, and his guitar was always around at every Scottish gathering thereafter. He led many a ceilidh at the annual Clan Macpherson Association gatherings in the US, Canada and in Scotland, and that will be his greatest legacy to the Scottish community.

Will, when I get to heaven with you, I want you to organize a dinner party and ceilidh in my honor.