Former University relations vice president, Bill Joyner, has died

Retired Vice President for University Relations, G. William “Bill” Joyner, passed away on June 6 following a period of declining health.

Joyner, a direct descendant of the school’s founder, Samuel Wait, attended Wake Forest College and played men’s basketball for coaches Bones McKinney and Jack Murdock.

He attended graduate school at Wake Forest and taught English at Appalachian State before returning to the University in 1969 to work in fundraising and development. He built an award-winning program that was admired nationally.

Joyner joined the Wake Forest staff as director of alumni affairs. During his 27-year tenure, the University conducted three successful capital campaigns: the One Fifty Fund in the 1970s; the Sesquicentennial Campaign in the 1980s; and the Heritage and Promise Campaign in the 1990s.

He retired as vice president for University Relations in 1996.

We extend our condolences to Joyner’s family and friends and to those who had the opportunity to know him. A memorial service will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11, at 2 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church. (646 W. 5th Street)

An obituary is available here.