My thanks and appreciation
To Those Who Told Their Stories
Bill's friends, colleagues, and employees were interviewed by me or others over the course of many years. They offered tremendous insight into his life and mind. Bill's relationships were the foundation of his success in business and civic leadership, and I am grateful that they volunteered their time and memories. I was not able to include every remembrance, but they all helped to give a robustness and depth to the story.
To My Editors and Publisher
I also had the support of the Oregon State University Press, who helped me through the unfamiliar process of going from a sprawling manuscript to a book for sale. I want to specifically thank Marianne Keddington-Lang, who, as my developmental editor, helped guide me to a structured narrative that is thoroughly researched and accessible to a wide audience.
To My Friends and Family
Many of my friends and close family read the book in its many iterations and were deeply supportive of my work, giving me helpful and thoughtful feedback along the way. It would not be what it is without them nor would I.
To The Japanese American Community
Several people in the Japanese American community lent me their time, knowledge, and own personal perspectives to help give me a deeper understanding of Bill's experiences and his resilience. Bill considered every success by other Japanese Americans to be his own, and the community's perseverance is part of what is being honored in this biography.
To My Partner and Sons
I would never have been able to complete this years-long task without the love and support of my beautiful sons and my unfailing partner, who often gave me the space and time I needed to work on it through the years. And thank you to my cats Muta, The Baron, and Little Baby, and my dog, the Most Handsomest Fellow Ustinov. And my dogs Tippet and Timber and my cat Roo, who are no longer here but who gave me love and comfort effortlessly.