Pub. 60 2019-2020 Issue 3

20 It was wonderful get- ting to know and work with Bill during his time as President of TADA. I had met Bill in his previous posi- tion but only got to be friends later. Bill is one of the most positive and upbeat people I have ever had the privilege of calling a friend. College football is one passion that he shares with my daughter, and they have had many great times discussing the pros and cons of the exploits of the Longhorns v. Crimson Tide. Bill also taught me a lot about diet and the challenges of traveling with lots of food, particularly ice cream! Bill, best wishes in retirement. Tom Dart, Automobile Dealers Association of Alabama, Inc. Bill Wolters is the kind of guy that you always want t o h a v e i n your corner. And there is never any doubt who he is fighting for! The dealers of Texas know what Bill has done for them over these many decades, but what you may not know is how much he has done for dealers, consumers, and associations all over the country. As a member of Automotive Trade As- sociation Executives (ATAE) and one of our esteemed past chairmen, Bill’s insights and influence have had a last- ing impact from coast to coast —all of it positive. Bill’s peers point to him as one of the smartest, well-spoken, and generous leaders they know. I have been blessed to call Bill my member, my colleague, my teacher, and even my boss. But most of all, I am honored that I get to call him my friend. Jennifer Colman, ATAE President A l l I h a v e e v e r k nown at TADA is Bill Wolters. S o m e t i m e around my col- lege years, Bill Wolters became synony- mous with TADA, and I assumed he had been there before me and that he would be there after me. It wasn’t until I became an active member that I learned the quirks of Bill Wolters that made him so incredibly endearing. He will gladly fly to Mexico and listen intently to conversations without knowing a lick of Spanish, “I thought you knew what was going on, Bill.” He once upon a time carried a Tuna Fish Sandwich in his coat pocket because when hopping frommeeting to meeting, “ain’t nobody got time to sit and order.” He will shower you with compliments on any given day at any given moment. Your hairdresser could accidentally dye your hair blue and he would tell you it’s an incredible shade on you and absolutely mean it, I think. And anything nega- tive that comes flying at him he blocks with joyous laughter and then before you know it you are laughing with him, and you won’t remember why you even started. Those are the ‘Bill-isms’ but, the best one, the one that is by far my favorite, is Bill’s uncanny ability to tell the story of every single-family dealer in the state of Texas. Bill can remember a dealer’s name, their address, the names of their aunts, cousins, and grandkids, and even their majors in college. If you asked him, he could probably tell you which of our an- cestors was the first to arrive in the United States, and then Texas, and if by sea, rail or on foot. He knows every fact about all the dealers’ contribu- tions to the economy from taxes, to employment, to philanthropy. At the drop of a hat he will rattle off why the Texas dealers are the most important businessmen and women in our state and why they are the backbone of our economy. I have never met anyone like Bill Wolters, and frankly, I’m not sur- prised and quite glad. I’m glad because that made Bill the most unique man of any Association on Capitol Hill, making the Texas Auto Dealers one of the strongest and most astounding associations in the Country. Thank you, Bill, for leading the way and car- rying the torch. We are so lucky you chose The Texas Auto Dealers to be part of your family for so many years. Fortunately for us, but I’m not so sure for you, Ha, Once Family, Always Family. So, don’t you go too far. April Ancira, Ancira Enterprises  BILL WOLTERS — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16  BILL WOLTERS — CONTINUED ON PAGE 22