Bill Ladd '83
Chair, Reunion
Term: 2006-2009

William Ladd ’83 reprises a remarkable term as Chair of Reunions. As chair of his class's 20th Reunion in 2003,he spearheaded a successful drive to set record -breaking attendance and participation goals, starting off by personally contacting all 528 classmates! The theater major believes in relying on one’s natural strengths, which, in his case, are boundless energy and a deeply resonant voice. Over the years, Ladd built his career as an actor, producer and writer around these assets. Currently a screenwriter in Atlanta, GA, he has five screenplays and a television pilot making the studio circuit in Los Angeles. Some of his talents emerged at Skidmore, where he majored in theater and acquired, he says, an “excellent preparation for the professional world.” WSPN radio offered a creative venue too: he conceived and hosted a movie-review show and an entertainment news segment.

Bill’s radio career continues to this day with his weekly stint as a news anchor for the Georgia Radio Reading Service, a service for the blind and newsprint-impaired of Georgia. He also became Skidmore’s first bodybuilding champion in 2003 by winning the NPC Mr. Atlanta Masters Middleweight Championship. He credits natural bodybuilding with giving him his boundless energy as well as his “can-do” spirit.

Most importantly, Ladd credits his grandmother, Helen Filene Ladd ’22 for instilling in him a commitment to volunteerism in general and on behalf of Skidmore in particular. “Granny always called Skidmore her second home...and now it has become mine as well.” Since her death in 1983, Ladd has represented his family at Skidmore’s annual Filene Music Scholarship spring auditions and fall recitals. He's very proud that his grandmother’s legacy of supporting music education continues to thrive and reach new levels every year at Skidmore.