William H. Dudley Sr.'s Obituary
William (Bill) Herbert Dudley, Sr.
Bill Dudley unexpectedly passed April 8, 2024 at Bayfront Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was 80 years old.
Bill was born on February 27, 1944, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Robert Earl Dudley, Sr. and Gladys Virgina Taylor Dudley. His family moved to St. Petersburg in 1956 and Bill has since called St. Pete his home.
Bill graduated from Northeast High School in St. Petersburg in 1963 (BIOYA), earned an Associate of Arts Degree from St. Petersburg Junior College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of South Florida in 1968, and a Master of Science Degree in Administration and Supervision from Stetson University in 1980.
From 1965 to 1966 Bill served on the United States Capital Police Force, appointed by Congressman William C. Cramer as his first patronage. He began his teaching profession in 1968 and taught in Pinellas County for thirty-seven years before retiring in 2006. He served as the head of his department, coached numerous sports, and was recognized by Pinellas County as the Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2006. He organized the St. Petersburg City Championship Wrestling Tournament, and is past president of Pinellas County Coaches Association. He was inducted into the Northeast High School Hall of Fame in 2010. Additionally, Bill was honored to be inducted into the Florida Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2014 in recognition of his lifetime service to wrestling.
Bill was elected as a member of the City Council in 2007 and represented District 3.and was re-elected for a second term in 2011, After leaving City Council, Bill was elected to the Pinellas County School Board and served from 2018-2022.
Bill has also been very involved in his community. He is a graduate of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce – Focus St. Pete XIV 2003 Leadership Program and a graduate of the 2005 Council on Neighborhood Associations (CONA) Leadership Class in 2005, subsequently mentoring for that program in 2006 and 2007. He served on the Snell Isle Property Owners Association Board from 2005-2007 and served as its president in 2007. He is a past member of the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society (AWAPS), the Northeast Exchange Club, Tiger Bay volunteered for All Children’s Hospital’s Taste of Pinellas and the Northeast Exchange Club Ribfest.
Bill is predeceased by his parents, Bob and Gladys Dudley, brothers, Bob Dudley, Jr. and Fred Dudley, and his first wife, Patricia Cooper Dudley. He is survived by his wife, Michelle Timmel Dudley, two children, Jennifer Tippett (Jerry Tippett) and Bill, Jr. (Janelle Vargo Dudley), four grandchildren, J.P. Tippett, and Elise Tippett., and Liam and Avery Dudley, countless nieces, and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Service Arrangements for “Coach” Bill Dudley are as follows:
Visitation on Thursday, April 11th from 3:00pm-8:00pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery (5750 - 49th St N., Saint Petersburg, FL 33709)
Funeral Service on Friday, April 12th at 10:00am at Grace Lutheran Church & School (4301 - 16th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33703)
Interment to follow at Memorial Park.
There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, April 13th from 11:00am-2:00pm at Northeast High School Gym (5500 - 16th Street N. St. Petersburg, FL 33703; Gym parking lot is off of 54th Avenue)
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Northeast High School Athletic Hall of Fame in honor of “Coach” Bill Dudley.
Send to:
NEHI Athletic Hall of Fame
PO Box 55901
St. Petersburg, FL 33732
(In the memo space please signify Bill Dudley Donation)
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