The Far Western District Board of Directors and the district membership take great pride in dedicating this 2003 Fall District convention to Bill Joor — Mister Barbershop of the Aloha Chapter, the Sandwich Islands and all points East, West and Down Under!
Bill was born on the South Side of Chicago. His main interest in his early years was football and it wasn't until his college days at Lake Forest College that he discovered his love for singing, along with fellow class-mates Tom Felgen (The Four Renegades and Chicago News) and Tom Hine (The Neighborhoods). Bill joined the County Line Chapter of the Society in 1955.
In 1960, seeking better weather, Bill moved to Hawaii. There he found instant friendship and his first real job through Aloha Chapter members. In addition, as a tenor, he found lots of opportunities to sing barbershop. At his first chapter meeting, he was invited to join the Tiki Tones. Bill sang tenor with them for 20 years. The, the Merry Macs, a quartet that was formed in 1979 to introduce barbershop harmony to New Zealand. The 18-day tour was sponsored by McDonalds and they sang 75 shows and 500" songs! This resulted in the formation of the City of Sails Chapter and ultimately, the New Zealand Association of Barbershop.
Next came the Sugar Cane Express, the F.O.G.S., with the late Dave Stevens singing baritone and finally, the Castaways, with his son Mike, from 1991 to the present.
Bll Joor has been one of the mainstays of the Aloha Chapter. He has been Annual Show Chairman or Assistant Chairman for 11 years; include another 5 years of the Christmas Shows, "After-Afterglow" Chairman - 38 years; Chairman of the yearly downtown Christmas Caroling - 25 years; Chapter President - 2 terms; Board Member - 31 years; Long Range Planning Committee - 7 years.
If that were not enough, he has received the President's Award in 4 different years; he was Barbershopper Of The Year in 1965 and 1983; Barbershopper Of The Month - 11 different times; and Barbershopper of the Decade in 1990.
In his spare time away from barbershopping, Bill has earned his living as an Educator, a Fisherman, a Printing Salesman, a Xerox Salesman and is still working full-time as a Commercial Real Estate Broker.
While he was teaching school in Lake Forest in 1958, Bill and Sandy met. They were Married in Hawaii in 1962 and Sandy continues to tolerate his quartet rehearsals! The are the proud parents of Alyson, Mike, and Suzanna and the extra-proud grandparents of five handsome grandsons. Without the continued efforts and total involvement of members like Bill Joor on the chapter level, there would be no Far Western District, nor even a barbershop society. So, step up to Bill sometime this weekend, shake his hand and say "Thanks" and blow a Bb!