His smile was contagious. His personality was warm and disarming. He set examples for fellowship and congeniality. He had a consuming passion to help others and to be the best in his profession. He never waited for things to happen, but as Beloit’s leading exponent of “The Good Life” and “The American Dream” he made things happen. And his friends were legion!

Bill Bryden was a man among men, a “one of a kind Beloiter” who set a pattern for service and fairness. He was the “dean” of area automotive dealers, a respected community business leader, nationally known for quality customer relations and an exemplary family man when he died suddenly and unexpectedly on January 16, 1984.

He was at the top of a brilliant career and his death shocked the community and thousands of friends and associates here, in the state and across the nation.

Bill Bryden set many examples, he led many good causes, he won numerous honors and his accomplishments ranged from helping the homeless and aged, to helping young people, schools, churches and civic organizations; to promoting business and industrial growth and development. He has been missed and even today he enters conversations when Beloiters talk about “the good things and the good guys” of our community.

Bill Bryden was a booster who took pride in Beloit and the people of this area. We needed him while he was among us and we need his vision and his philosophy today. Yes, we miss Bill Bryden and naming him to the Hall of Fame is one way to remember him with respect and affection.

Everyone knew Bill Bryden the automobile dealer, but few knew Bill Bryden the humanitarian, the civic leader and the unsung volunteer behind the scenes who gave unstintingly of his time, talents and treasure.

Year after year Bill provided brand new automobiles to four community high schools for driver education classes. He didn’t seek remuneration or publicity. He just wanted kids to learn to drive safely and correctly in safe vehicles.

During the nine years we worked as executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, Bill Bryden provided brand new cars because he wanted the Chamber to “present a prosperous looking face to prospective new businesses and industries.” Several times he provided two new cars a year so the Chamber leader could call on prospective members, new industries and new businesses, hoping to bring them to Beloit to provide more jobs.

Bill served the Chamber as president, was an organizer of the Ambassadors, the Chamber’s goodwill arm; won “Ambassador of the Year” honors and served as president and treasurer of the Beloit Economic Development Corporation.

For many years Bill made parades sparkle by providing cars on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and other occasions, always without charge. Civic and patriotic organizations year after year assumed that new vehicles would be available by the dozen for any community occasion and they were…! Always with that famous Bryden admonition: “Now, have a good time!”

The United Givers Fund was a special interest for Bill and he served on all committees, receiving the organization’s Distinguished Service Award in 1971. He organized automotive dealers into an active part of the Givers’ campaign year after year and his own contributions were big and unheralded.

But the Chamber and the Givers Fund were but a small part of Bill Bryden. He served the Fountain Terrace Nursing Home as a director for many years, participated in the work of the Elks for 35 years, the Lions Club for 30 years and all agencies of the Masonic Fraternity right up to the 32nd Degree Consistory. He was involved in Masonic Charities and the work with crippled children in free hospitals operated by the Shriners.

Bill also was active in Rockton’s Old Stone Church, serving the Finance and Benevolence Committees and the group which built the Christian Education Building for the congregation.

Patriotic since childhood, Bill made a special point to display the American Flag, which he loved. His huge flag on Broad Street was both admired and envied and was stolen several times, perhaps because it was so attractive. On occasion he distributed flags and patriotic buttons.

The environment and outdoors were important to Bill Bryden. He was an ardent fisherman, hunter and outdoorsman. He was interested in Winnebago County Forest Preserves and Parks, worked for their expansion and fought encroachment. He was active in conservation groups and was happiest in a boat on some unnamed Canadian lake fighting Northerns, Walleyes and Smallmouth Bass with good companions. He willingly provided vans and campers to friends so they too might jaunt into recreational areas.

Born in Illinois, Bill entered the automotive field in 1941 at the age of 22, as a foreman at a Chicago Studebaker plant. From 1943 through 1945 he was an instructor and supervisor for Dodge in Chicago and toward the end of World War II, while still employed in the Dodge Aircraft Plant, started a used car business. He became “the mayor of Broad Street” and one of the most respected car dealers in America.

With $1,400 and four old used cars, Bill Bryden built a business and a reputation. In 1978, after winning the prestigious Time Magazine Award, a news article said: “Mr. Bryden is an example of the American Dream… a self-made man who reached success by hard work.” He obtained a Hudson franchise in 1946, Dodge in 1958 and Chrysler in 1963, the same year the dealership was incorporated as Bryden Motors, Inc.

Bill was a director and past president of the Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers’ Association and received the Time award from the National Automobile Dealers Association, of which he was a prominent member. He served the Board of Directors 21 years from 1955 through 1976 and was National Secretary in 1962.

He served as president and treasurer of the Beloit Car and Truck Dealers Association, winning honors including the group’s 1977 Outstanding Service Award. A director of the Chrysler-Plymouth Advertising Council, Bill served the agencies in various capacities and from 1968 through 1975 was a member of the Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Department Advisory Committee.

Bill led his dealership to numerous honors, all reflecting credit upon this community. He received the Northwood Institute’s Dealer Education Award in 1976 and was singled out several times for quality service by the Board of the Highway Users Federation. The Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge people repeatedly awarded superior ratings to Bryden’s, which was named again and again as the premiere organization in Wisconsin.

He founded the Metropolitan Milwaukee Auto Auction in 1965. Pride was a motivating factor in Bill Bryden’s scheme of things. He directed his own urban renewal program along St. Paul Avenue and Broad Street, removing unsightly buildings and improving properties. He always assisted the city in better zoning and beautifying blighted neighborhoods. Several times he made important improvements despite lagging official assistance.

All this says nothing of Bill Bryden’s unlimited capacity for friendship. His love of people. His circle of adoring associates and family members. His agency was something of a family affair with his father, his lovely wife Mary Jayne and his sons; and he was close to all of them.

We count ourselves lucky and always have been extremely grateful to be among Bill Bryden’s friends.

There is more to be said about Bill Bryden… civic leader, humanitarian, community servant, exemplary business executive and influence, friend of young and old, solid citizen and patriotic American… but this will give you a feeling of the type of man he was.

He is gone but his influence in our lives remains.

Mr. Chairman, it is my very great honor to nominate William R. Bryden for induction into the Beloit Hall of Fame and I do this with fondest admiration and affection.
– Larry Raymer