William Boling
By Victoria Register-Freeman
Resident Community News
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony might serve as a suitable soundtrack for a film on William ‘Bill’ Boling’s life. The piece is known for its quiet melodies punctuated by moments of energy and excitement.
Boling comes from a family of action-oriented individuals. In 1939 when he was five, his parents moved from Atlanta to Jacksonville with him and his sister Barbara. His father began working as office manager for an outdoor advertising company owned by Ed Ball and his mother became the founding director of King Edward Cigar’s industrial nursery, the first industrial nursery in the United States. “During World War II It was open 24 hours a day for the workers’ children,” recalls Boling,” and it housed up to 130 children.”
Another family member, May Pynchon, Boling’s aunt, was the second women pilot to get her wings in Jacksonville. A reporter for the Jacksonville Journal, she wrote stories on her experiences while learning to fly. As president of Pilot Club International, she helped restore a French church that was bombed in World War II where there is a window dedicated to her. She would often join the family for Thanksgiving dinner. Like many folks in Jacksonville, Thanksgiving Day was partially spent at the annual Lee vs. Jackson football game always held in the Municipal Stadium, now EverBank Field. “That was the big Thanksgiving event,” Boling reminisces.
Music infused his life. He took piano lessons from Rosa Coniff in 1940. According to him, the program for a recital they gave had a definite code. “The pianists were always listed on the program in the order of their musical skill. Those presented first were the least skilled and those who played later were much better. “In one recital program I was first and Minerva Rogers Mason and Ann Stiefel Brewster were much farther down the program as they were really talented.”
Vocal music was also important. Boling sang in the Church of the Good Shepherd’s boys’ choir, which was modeled on the English version. “For participation at numerous rehearsals and on Sundays, we received 55 cents per month which was just enough to pay for a haircut. Larry Moshell sang most of the solos because he had the best voice.”
Later at John Gorrie, Boling switched to the trumpet and performed in the Gorrie band. “It was at Gorrie that I had Mrs. Ruth McCalla who taught both Latin and English. She was the best teacher I ever had. She expected us to do our best and we did. No one wanted to disappoint Mrs. McCalla.”
At Lee the trumpet remained his instrument. There were band trips to Miami for contests. Boling also became involved in plays with his membership on the Stage Crew. “I took over as props chairman from Sarah Towers van Cleve.” Bob Smith and Phoebe Jackson Smith, Robert Johnson, Joan Goodman Bessent, and Neese Ostner Goodling were also involved in drama. “I remember we put on ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’ where Lewis Lee ran around the stage with my grandfather’s 32 caliber pistol firing blanks. Don’t know if you could do that now.”
After Lee it was on to Sewanee, and then Columbia for an MBA followed by a stint in the Army. Having worked in the file room at Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Company as a summer job, he returned to that firm after graduation and eventually was sent to head the Miami office. Miami served as his launching pad for a European trip where he met his wife, Annette Kjaer, in Denmark. They have two daughters, Carol Chaffin and Angelica Rose.
Later, Boling became President and CEO of SWD and speaks warmly of the mentoring he received in that firm from the senior partners. As a result of sales and mergers, Boling completed his career by working at the helm of two other home mortgage companies. Now, retired, he remains involved in music via the St. Mark’s choir and Riverside Fine Arts. Among other areas that receive the benefit of his career knowledge and personal passion are the Kanuga Conference Center, Sewanee, and the Phi Beta Kappa alumni chapter. And, of course, there is time spent with the three grandchildren who range in age from 13 to 2.
The beat goes on!
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