William H. Price II
"Bill" died on the 6th of February, 2016 from complications of
cancer. He was born in Salisbury, Maryland and was graduated from Snow Hill
High School in 1951. He was the son of Walter W. Price and Margie R. Price.
Active in several extra-curricula activities such as drama, school paper,
soccer, and safety patrol to name a few, Bill was elected president of the
Student Council his senior year. At graduation he was awarded the "Old
Home Prize" for which he was required to give a memorized oral
presentation. His subject, which had to be related to the Eastern Shore of
Maryland, was "Rivers of the Eastern Shore."
Bill was sworn into the
inactive naval reserve upon graduation by his brother, Walter Jr., then a
Lieutenant Commander USN, and was called to active duty in August. After
attending recruit training for a few weeks he was transferred to the Naval
Academy Preparatory School, whose name is indicative of its purpose. Garnering
appointments to the Naval Academy from Senator Herbert O'Connor and
Representative Theodore Miller, and qualifying as well for a fleet appointment
by virtue of his grade on the fleet wide examination, Bill opted to release the
latter to benefit another enlisted person and relinquished Mr. Miller's appointment
to another Eastern Shoreman. A liberal arts student in an engineering school,
Bill found the curricula rather daunting. Still, he was able to find time to
manage the plebe and varsity soccer teams, write music criticisms and fiction
for the school's magazine, The Log, and was both a platoon leader and in his
senior year, a member of the first regimental staff. Upon graduation in 1956,
Bill was assigned to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp (CVA/CVS 18), where he
served in communications for two years. One of six persons in the fleet
selected to be designated a communications specialist in 1958, Bill was ordered
to Naval Security Group in Washington, D. C where he served until he resigned
his regular commission in 1960. However he accepted a reserve commission. He
remained in the Reserves and retired with the rank of Commander, USNR.
Bill entered the
University Of Maryland School Of Law in September, 1960. In addition to his
studies, he served on professional schools senate that included medical, dental,
and nursing schools, on moot court, and the Maryland Law Review. He was
appointed Editor in Chief his senior year.
Upon graduation in 1963
Bill was named the recipient of the Stanley Levin Prize, awarded to a member of
the graduating class deemed best in displaying character and leadership. Bill
was appointed law clerk to the Honorable Charles Marbury, Associate Judge of
the Maryland Court of Appeals for the 1963-1964 term of court. He assisted the
judge in researching the law and drafting opinions in cases coming before the
court and assigned to Judge Marbury to write.
An offer to become an
associate with the prestigious law firm of Henry, Henry, and Adkins, located in
Easton, Maryland was made to Bill, and he joined the firm in September 1964. He
became a full partner in 1970 and served until February 1997, leaving as the
senior partner of the firm then styled as Henry & Price. Professionally
Bill served as a member of the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners, President
of the Talbot County Bar Association and Vice President of the Maryland State
Bar Association, and served on several of that association's commissions and
committees. He initiated and chaired the state bar committee which was
instrumental in obtaining constitutional and legislative authority to continue
utilizing the services of retired judges, and also served on the committee
which drafted a jury selection statute. In 1996 Bill was made a life member of
the Maryland Bar Foundation.
In addition Bill has
served on numerous community charitable boards, both as member and officer,
including The Margaret Ferree Scholarship Foundation, Easton Day Care Center,
Inc., Big Brothers & Sisters of the Eastern Shore, Friends of the Adkins
Arboretum, Deer's Head Foundation, St. John Foundation, Talbot County Library
Foundation, and Midshore Symphony Society, Inc. For many years he wrote or
edited the notes for the programs given by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
sponsored by Midshore Symphony Society, Inc. of which he also served as a board
member and president.
At his death Bill was
married to the former Sarah Elllis Taylor, and has two children by a previous
marriage to Joyce Mitchell Price, namely Julie Price and Riley Price. Riley
married Chanthy (nee Koy) and they have one child, a daughter, Katelyn. He also
is survived by two stepchildren, Deborah Jones and husband Reed and David
"Dirk" German and wife Beth, and by six step-grandchildren. Two
brothers, Walter Jr. and Edwin and a sister, Cordelia Price Turk, preceded him
in death. From these siblings he is survived by numerous nephews and a niece
and by great nephews and great nieces.
The family requests that
in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to any charity the donor supports.
A memorial service will
be held at a place and time convenient to the family.
