Bill was my mentor and friend  .  He was so informed about world events and the political intrigues associated with international events.  he always took my phone calls and helped me with securing my sons' passports and visas when they were lost thru a courier service used by my local travel agency.

My sons thought the world of him, as do I.

From 1990-1994, I was in the 19th cohort  of the Kellogg Foundation's National Leadership Program and Bill was my advisor.  Bill's guidance and advice has served me throughout more than thirty years.  One summer I took my adolescent aged sons to Washington D.C. and Bill met us for lunch. My sons were thrilled too meet him in person.  Bill was indeed "larger than life".  He was my friend,  and mentor. My condolences to the Isom faamily.

I never met with Bill that I didn't come away more enlightened and inspired. We were neighbors who sometimes commuted together when he was at the National War College, and I was at ICAF and the Pentagon. Bill would fill those hours with enchanting tales from his vast knowledge of world affairs, his personal experiences in Africa and the Far East, and his unique insights on geopolitics. His brilliance was only topped by his humanity. Bill was a treasure to the Army and our nation.

Bill and I served together at the National War College during the years when he was a highly respected professor and I was the commandant.
The students, faculty and staff had the highest respect for this quiet professional with such great wisdom.