August 2020 - The Castle Pines Connection

Volume 12, Number 8 Billy Wills and the guitar that brought him through life By Shaun Kernahan; courtesy photos Companionship in life is essential, and resident Billy Wills has had two steadfast companions who have carried him through the highs and lows of his life – his wife of nearly 30 years, Rosemarie, and a trusty guitar that his father gave him more than ve decades ago. Billy Wills was 12 years old when his dad went to the local pawn shop and picked up a secondhand guitar. Over the next 18 months, Billy learned to play that guitar, strumming songs by The Byrds, Herman’s Hermits and The Beatles. That guitar helped make Billy popular in junior high and high school, as he played for his friends and for the girls. After high school, that guitar was played with a bit more twang, as Billy learned to play Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty. Eventually, Billy packed that guitar up and brought it with him to San Diego. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton for training in the U.S. Marine Corps. After Billy nished his training to become an 0311 ri eman, that guitar was there and stayed with him as he boarded a plane at Travis Air Force Base and took o for Okinawa, Japan. Playing shows was one of the ways Billy and that guitar passed time in Okinawa. When the time came to head to Vietnam, well, “You can’t carry a guitar out there in the jungle.” That guitar waited in storage while Billy went o to ght the Viet Cong. After Billy came back, that guitar was taken out of storage, dusted o , and again entertained the servicemen in Okinawa. Their reunion was brief. Billy was selected to return for a second tour. Billy came back a little di erent this time. He had wounds that earned him the disabled veteran license plate displayed on his truck and motorcycle. War wounds didn’t stop Billy from picking up that guitar. It went with him back to the states and followed him through college. That guitar joined Billy and played clubs in Colorado Springs. After one of these gigs, Billy rst laid eyes on Rosemarie. “It was love at rst sight,” she said. Now, instead of Billy and that guitar it was Rosemarie, Billy and that guitar. The three of them toured the southwest playing shows. Given the current pandemic, Billy has not been able to play many live shows. (Continued on page 34) In This Issue 2 22 46 Sign up for email alerts or our monthly e-subscription at: Editor@CastlePinesConnection.com Good Ol’ Days of Summer August 2020 Colorado Debut Robin’s Nest and War Horse Project The Castle Pines Connection PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENVER, CO PERMIT NO.1948 7437 Village Square Drive, Suite 220 Castle Pines, CO 80108 www.CastlePinesConnection.com August 2020