Born in Tarrytown, New York December 12, 1935, William (Bill) Solemene was raised in New Rochelle, New York graduating high school in 1953. An early entrepreneur he spent his free time creating various enterprises. His father, a civil engineer taught him the “tools” of the surveying-construction business and at an early age he was a transit man laying out housing projects and later working on the giant Saint Lawrence Power project during summers as a Surveyor.

Bill continued his entrepreneurial exploits while at the University of Vermont; from birthday cakes, to corsages, to grinders to the VT Wreath Company. He later joined the Burlington Free Press as an advertising salesman. During his Junior year he joined the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG), was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and was assigned to Navigation and Radar Observer School at James Connolly AFB, Texas.

Returning to Vermont Bill flew with the VTANG and graduated with a Marketing Degree from the University of Vermont in 1961. In 1962 he transferred to the Puerto Rico ANG and was also employed as an Account Executive with the Highley Advertising Company. In 1965 he was hired by Young & Rubicam Advertising as head of Panama and Central America working on the Gulf Oil and Chase Bank accounts.

In 1966 Solemene became Director of the Panamanian and Central American Division of
J. Walter Thompson, residing in Mexico City handling all International accounts. In late ’68 he was transferred to JWT’s NY office, then on to Dallas in charge of the Oklahoma and Texas Ford Dealer accounts in 1969. He later became Manager of the Dallas office but left JWT in 1974 to form his own agency.

Our author, Bill Solemene, built his agency to mid-size, specializing in automotive accounts, Hispanic marketing and PR “happenings” for his clients.

Active in civic and political affairs, Bill continued with his USAF Reserve career retiring in 1988 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He has been a precinct chair, election judge and past President of the Dallas County Republican Assembly, past President of the Dallas Chapter Air Force Association, Chairman of the Dallas Military Ball and the Dallas Veterans Day parade. He continues as PR and underwriting chair for the Veterans Day parade and still offers time and input to the Republican Party, local, state and National. He currently is head of the North Texas Vermont alumni group.

Among his awards and honors: Caribbean Defense Medal, Puerto Rico Air National Guard 1962, Meritorious Service Medal, USAF 1981, The Jack Flag Air Force Association Communications Award in 1991 and Texas Air Force Association Man of the Year, 2001.

Our author is still operating his ad agency and is involved in investments and start-up companies. Still single, he resides in Dallas, Texas.