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WCA Humanitarian of the Year 202
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Bill Gillespie

Robin Bryan this Presidential honor. He
started his clown career
The WCA Humanitarian of the Year award is not an in 1991 while serving
annual recognition. It is at the president’s discretion in the US Navy and he
that this prestigious award is given to a member joined the local alley
who has gone above and beyond in their volunteer WCA #2 Gator Clowns Of
endeavors. I myself was given this award by the Jacksonville that same
then President, Pam “Sparky” Moody in 2018. She year. He has been active
recognized me for my clowning during the hurricane ever since and has served
Irma while at the Southeast Clown Association many positions including
Convention. Our hotel was being hit hard by the Vice President, Professor
hurricane and I organized a clown show to distract Clown and President.
the kids that were part of evacuations. While the wind In 1996 he became a
blew hard and trees fell on the building, the children volunteer for Wolfsons
were laughing. When it became my turn as President Children’s Hospital. He
to select someone, I didn’t hesitate. I chose my mentor. created the character Dr O- No. Children found his
He trained and encouraged me to be the best funny white face medical character with a huge exaggerated
clown I could be. nose hilarious. There in the beginning days of his
service, he was allowed to twist balloons as a way
Enough about me. Let me tell you about Bill of entertainment. Then latex allergies became an
Gillespie and you will agree that he is deserving of issue and balloons were no longer allowed. He didn’t
quit! Instead, he created a new character, Mr Bill the
10 MAGAZINE magician. This lite makeup character thrilled with
magic and had them laughing at his spring skunk.
He had named it Bruce and he swears it’s an exotic
zebra ( but that’s a whole other story). Never did he
leave a child’s room without laughter. Parents would