Dr. Bill Chandler

Dr. Bill Chandler 1935-2020

Founding Father, Visionary, Advocate, Friend of OCTC

OCTC and this community lost a beautiful soul on July 18th this year with the passing of Dr. Bill Chandler. I consider myself both fortunate and blessed to have developed a lasting friendship with this amazing man and his sweet wife, Sandy.

After serving in multiple leadership roles with the Owensboro Public Schools (OPS), Dr. Chandler was named superintendent of OPS. He served this system for 38 years with honor, compassion, and the desire to see students thrive and excel through education.

His favorite saying was,” If there is enough time to do it, there is enough time to do it right.” He lived his entire life with this attitude, and through his wisdom and example, he was able to change many lives along the way. I know his children and grandchildren feel most fortunate to have had his guidance throughout their lives.

Following his retirement in 1997, he and Sandy enjoyed cattle and crop farming in Philpot. He also co-authored the book, “History of Owensboro Public School System (1871-2007).”

Dr. Chandler truly cared about all people, particularly the children and youth of our community. He spent half his life working tirelessly to advance educational opportunities. He was involved in establishing Hager Preschool for three and four-year-old at-risk children to working with the Citizens Committee for Education.

He may have been small in stature, but he was a giant when it came to his dedication to our college and offering sound advice, time, resources, and a vast knowledge through his service on the OCTC Board of Directors and OCTC Foundation Board. For that, Bill Chandler is a hero in the hearts of all who knew him.

Dr. Jacqueline Addington, past president of OCTC, noted, “Bill Chandler was “our rock” and longtime loyal friend of OCTC from the beginning. He cared deeply for the students and rarely missed an opportunity to celebrate their achievements.”

Dr. Jim Klauber, Hagerstown Community College president and former OCTC president added, “He mentored me with all sorts of advice to address every situation imaginable as it arose at the college. He opened the doors of community leaders right and left so that I could meet them and talk about OCTC. He displayed all the best traits of a leader: humility, creativity, magnanimity, and above all else, integrity.”

“Our community has lost a true visionary and a tireless champion of serving others. Dr. Chandler’s career is a testament to helping others through excellence in education from primary through post-secondary. While we mourn his loss, we take solace in knowing that his legacy of excellence in education

and service continues to live on through all that he served. We thank his family for allowing us to share his shining light,” commented OCTC President Dr. Scott Williams.

Longtime friend and fellow founder of OCTC, Mike Fiorella said, “Whenever there was a hard job to be done, a difficult decision to be made, a resource to be acquired, or a need for encouragement or inspiration, Bill willingly took the lead. He put his heart and soul into every endeavor he undertook.”

Bernie Hale, director of public relations and marketing for the college added, “He believed that education was the key to a better life. He really did not care how much money you had or what color your skin was; if you were passionate and willing to work hard, he felt a moral obligation to help. He helped in any means necessary through influence, mentoring, and through financial support.”

Dr. Chandler thrived on quietly doing good for others and his only payback was knowing he may have made a positive and lasting difference in their lives.

On occasion, I would meet Dr. Chandler for lunch and loved listening to his humble stories of finding people jobs, going to bat for someone who just needed a helping hand and how their lives were changing as a result. Every visit with him always left me feeling that I was taking away so much more than I brought to the table.

Bill Chandler was full of life lessons and was a true “Pay it Forward” thinking individual. It is uncommon to meet someone who so obviously possesses the nine “Fruits of the Spirit”: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control…but our friend, Bill Chandler, had them all. Many thanks gentle warrior and Rest in Peace.

The College will hold a special memoriam service

in honor of Dr. Chandler in the spring as health restrictions allow. If you would like a personal notification of the event please email linda. taylor@kctcs.edu with your contact information.