| Bill Parker | |
| Birth Name: | William Parker |
| Birth Date: | 18 January 1928 |
| Birth Place: | Canastota, New York |
| Death Place: | Vestal, New York |
| Nationality: | American |
| Other Names: | Officer Bill, The Atlantic Weatherman, The Dean of Broadcasting[1] |
| Occupation: | Broadcaster |
| Years Active: | 1948-2010 |
| Known For: | Broadcaster for WNBF, member of the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame |
William Parker (January 18, 1928 – August 19, 2019) was an American broadcaster for WNBF, and a member of the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Shows hosted by Parker include the TV Ranch Club, Captain Galaxy and the Officer Bill Show. Parker started working at WNBF in 1948, and retired in 1999. In 2015, Parker was added to the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Parker was born in Canastota, New York in 1928,[2] [3] which is in the town of Lenox, New York. After graduating from Canastota High School[4] in 1945,[5] Parker joined the United States Army. Between 1947 and 1948, Parker attended Columbia College in Chicago.
In 1948, Parker started to work for WNBF. In 1949, Parker helped create WNBF-TV, where he hosted a show on its first day.[6] On television, Parker hosted children's shows such as the Officer Bill Show,[7] TV Ranch Club, and Captain Galaxy.[8]
In 1999, Parker retired from WNBF[9] after working there for 51 years. In 2015, Parker was added to the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Parker died on August 19, 2019, and was buried with military honors.