Page 14 - WBG July 2025

FEATURE

Bill Lapworth

I am often asked about how I became a PI. Most think that I was with the
police, or even the FBI or CIA. None of those were applicable. I had an uncle
who had a large firm located in the Prudential Building in downtown Chicago,
and he offered me a job when I was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1967.
His company specialized in insurance claims investigation, and I immediately
accepted his and the $550 a month salary.

It was while I was there that I saw a binder with the members of the WAD. Each
member had an individual page, and there was a breakdown by state and
country. I asked my uncle about this and at the time he was not impressed after
recently attending an annual meeting-in Boston. He described it as a bunch of
old guys smoking cigars, and not very friendly for new members.

As his company grew, I was offered a chance to open a new office in Indianapolis
and moved there. As manager I had success, learning from mistakes, , but
decided to go out on my own. In 1976, with a partner , Research Consultants
Group, Inc, was formed . I never forgot the WAD, and after two years applied
and was accepted as a member. The annual conference for 1980 was suppose
to be in South Africa, but because of political problems was changed to Hong December) was able to share these experiences with
Kong. Although, my business only consisted of my partner and I, I decided to me. We were also able to take our daughters with us on
take a week off and find out about the WAD. a number of occasions and the opportunities to expand
by going to other countries as well. The memories that we
I met Sam Webster and Ray Pendleton on the bus from the airport, and thanks share are priceless.
to them, they provided introductions at the cocktail party. the welcome I
received at the party was over whelming. Meeting people from various counties, One of the highlights was going thru the chairs and being
some with several thousand employees was intimidating, but I was treated as elected President in 1992. The following year our conference
an equal, and as I was interested in what they did, they were just as interested in was split between the QE2 and the Waldorf Astoria in New
me and my company. Neil Holmes senior invited me to come with him on a day York. We had the option to fly over to pick up the ship by
trip to Macao, ray Pendleton invited me to take a day trip to China, which had flying on the Concorde SST and took it. In less than 3 1/2
just opened their borders to westerners. He also took me on a tour of the city hours we arrived in London, flying at about 1400 MPH and
that he had visited while in the Army. I came away hooked on the association at 60000 feet. Looking out the window we could see the
and seldom missed a meeting over the next 20+ years. curvature of the earth, with the black outer space and the
blue earth. Awesome experience.
On my return from Hong Kong, I received a call from a client who had changed
jobs and now was the claims manager for a large travel insurance company. All of these wonderful memories would not have been
He had a suspicious claim, where an insured alleged that he had jewelry stolen possible if I did not happen across the WAD membership
valued at about $20K. He had a receipt from an Hong Kong jeweler attesting binder in my uncles office. I will be eternally grateful for this
to the purchase. I faxed (no internet back than), to a local member. He went and have benefited greatly.
to the store, and the owner recalled the man. He had only purchased several
very small and cheap pieces, and indicated that he had lost receipts for larger I continue to be amazed at the new technologies of our
purchases elsewhere and needed something to get through customs. Not an industry and the growth of WAD as its maintains of its high
unusual request and so as not to lose this sale, he complied filling our a receipt standards to become a member. I will be unable to attend
on his letter head. It was a fraudulent claim, my client was thrilled and it began the 100th anniversary of its founding because of hip surgery
an almost 30 years of investigating travel claims. I was able during this time to as it would have completed full circle of my PI career.
refer cases to WAD members in almost 30 other countries. An Alpha to Omega, I began my career in Chicago in

I was able to develop many other opportunities to refer cases in many parts of 1967 and this would probably have been my last annual
the US and develop partnerships with other members in the US to go after large meeting. I know that our beloved association continues
accounts and share these business opportunities. Opportunities, that even now to be in good and capable hands, and will continue to be
as I look back continue to amaze me. viable for the next 100 years as well

Another vary important reason that I treasure my joining, was the chance to William (Bill) Lapworth
visit so many countries , experience their cultures and meet so many wonderful Past President 1992-1993
people. After my first conferences, my wife Cindy (anniversary #60this
Pawleys Island, SC
12 W.A.D Beyond Global