The Woodward Alumni Hall of Fame Association
William B. Hones Inducted 2022 - Class of 1975
William B. Hones is a 1975 graduate of Woodward. His life-long passion is music and he is an internationally recognized professional bass player. William grew up in the blue–collar neighborhood of Toledo’s North End on Sherman Street. Two of William’s favorite teachers were in Woodward's Music Department, Keith Biler and Al Haga. Keith Biler convinced William to take up the bass and also arranged a small scholarship to cover lessons for William. Al Haga provided guidance and “tough love” when William came down “with a bad case of senioritis.”
With great fondness William remembers the friendships he made especially with Marty Guthrie, Bob James, Ron Laub, and Jim Beveridge. Some of William’s favorite memories of Woodward include band camp, playing sousaphone in the marching band, playing in the orchestra for the Extravaganza, and having his uncle and brother come to his wrestling matches.
William earned his bachelor’s from BGSU in 1979 and a Master’s of Music at the University of Akron
in 1985. William, at the age of 27, in 1986 began a career in the U.S. Airforce that spanned 26 years rising to the rank of Chief Master Sgt. William served as principal bassist, director of operations, string orchestra producer, and, finally, as the noncommissioned officer in charge from 2007 to 2011.
William’s musical career has taken him from the Toledo Museum of Art’s Peristyle to the White House performing for Presidents Clinton and Obama. While performing here and abroad, William had the opportunity to play at the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for the Dali Lama of Tibet. He has appeared with numerous stars including Ray Charles, Kool and the Gang, Roy Clark, Michael Feinstein, and Little Big Town.
William and his wife, Amy, met while they were members of the Knoxville Symphony and now reside in Maryland. William and Amy have been married 38 years and William says of Amy that “Her patience and support is immeasurable and I cannot begin to adequately thank her.” They have two children, Daniel and Joyce, and one grandchild. These days William is still performing and currently teaching bass at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He spends his spare time biking on trails, attending minor league ball games, and wrenching on an old Ford pickup.