In his free time, Dr. Lane also serves as a Business Professional Association (BPA) state convention judge.
For Dr. William “Bill” Lane, service has never been a motto — it’s a way of life. From his military service to decades spent shaping minds and hearts, Dr. Lane has embodied the FFA motto of “Living to Serve” in every season of his life.
But his journey wasn’t always easy. Growing up, Dr. Lane faced challenges that might have discouraged most. “My guidance counselor told me I’d never amount to anything,” he recalled. Yet through those obstacles, he continued to build the resilience that would one day shape both his character and his commitment to service.
After graduating from high school, Lane joined the Navy during the Vietnam era. “Every day I was responsible for handling top-secret communications.” Stationed in Japan, he did more than just save lives; he learned discipline, purpose and the drive to do more.
When his service ended, Lane used the GI Bill to pursue higher education with relentless determination. He earned a series of degrees in education from a bachelor’s to a doctorate. “Four nights a week, I drove from Delaware to Pennsylvania and back for five years. But my love of education and helping people got me there.”
That love has defined his career. From serving Delaware students as a teacher, to an assistant principal, to an advocate in numerous districts, Dr. Lane has devoted himself to the students who needed him most — the ones who reminded him of his younger self. “I think that’s one of the reasons I do what I do. Because I relate to those students.”
Eventually, Dr. Lane joined Wilmington University, founding its Master of Special Education program. There, he designed a curriculum ensured to help future educators meet every learner’s needs.
When a fellow educator invited him to judge FFA competitions, his response was an immediate “yes,” beginning over 40 years of service from Delaware’s State FFA Convention to the National FFA stage. Generations of students have benefited from his calm encouragement, honest feedback, and unfaltering belief that every young person has something worth saying.
Dr. Lane is an avid traveler, having visited all 50 states, and an author.
Today, Dr. Lane continues to live that mission. Even after a stroke in 2014, he turned hardship into hope — writing a No. 1 bestselling book, “Don’t Be Invisible: Overcoming Communication Barriers,” becoming an international speaker, and founding a consulting business that advocates for families and students with special needs. He also serves on the World Autism Organization’s Board of Directors, helping others find their voice just as he found his own. His story reminds us that service is not a single act but rather a lifelong choice.
When asked what advice he’d give others, his words reflect a lifetime of grace and grit: “Don’t be influenced by what others say about you. Every moment is a gift — and you’ve got to live like that.”
