This decorated Air Force brigadier general, flight surgeon and Tri-Cities leader has died
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Willard “Bill” L. Meader a decorated flight surgeon who capped a 30-year military career by moving to the Tri-Cities in 1989 to lead the Hanford Environmental Health Foundation has died.
He was 89.
Meader of Richland had a big impact on the community where he chose to retire, according to the Kadlec Regional Medical Center Foundation, where he previously served on the board.
“Dr. Meader’s impact on the Tri-Cities medical community was profound, and we send our deepest condolences to the Meader family,” the foundation said in a statement released by Jim Hall, chief philanthropy officer.
Meader was born in 1933 in La Porte, Indiana, the eldest of five siblings. His father, Paul Meader, was a physician.
He earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, in 1959 and went on to serve at Air Force posts throughout the U.S. and world, including the Republic of Vietnam in 1967.
Meader completed his medical internship at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., and was commissioned as a captain in August 1959, according to an extensive military biography on the Air Force website.
He began is his residency at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, and completed it at the Office of the Surgeon, Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
He met and married his wife, Sharon, while serving as a general medical officer at Goose Air Base in Canada in the early 1960s, according to an obituary posted by Einan’s at Sunset.
The couple were married for 62 years. Survivors include his son, Richard, daughter, Dana, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a sister.
Following a short assignment at SAC, Meader transferred to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam in November 1967, where he served as commander of the 377th U.S. Air Force Dispensary and 21st Casualty Staging Flight.
He held leadership posts at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, the 20th Tactical Hospital, Royal Air Force Station, Wethersfield, England, and Headquarters 2nd Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
After graduating from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1975, he was assigned as general of biotechnology and deputy surgeon at Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.. He held additional posts at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
He was promoted to brigadier general in December 1983.
Meader’s military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.
After leaving the Hanford Environmental Health Foundation, he served as regional vice president of Group Health Northwest. He retired in 1997.
In retirement, he was known for his support of various civic organizations, including the Blue Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America, United Way of Benton Franklin Counties, the Lewis & Clark chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, Richland Rotary and the Kadlec Regional Medical Center Foundation board.
He supported work to recruit physicians to the Tri-Cities and served on the chronic pain committee of the former Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.
Services are pending.
