Bill Terrill was born and raised in Worcester, MA as one of seven children. Growing up, he moved around a few times throughout the city, but he’s always been proudest of his Main South origins. As a kid, Bill attended the Ionic Ave Club with his brothers Rick and Jim, where he learned how to swim, play snaps, basketball and play pool...but only when he turned 14. “I remember that you had to be old enough to play pool on the top floor. Once I reached that age, I loved playing whenever I could. But one of my favorite things to do was watch movies on Saturday afternoons for a dime.”
At the age of 16, Bill was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which caused his eye sight to completely deteriorate over the next 50 years. Despite new challenges, he didn't allow this life-altering discovery to slow him down. After graduating from South High School in 1970, Bill earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Springfield College and later went on to receive his Master’s in Education from Worcester State University and C.A.G.S. (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies) at Fitchburg State University.
Early in his career, Bill worked at Devereux School, Friendly House and Grafton Public Schools before becoming the principal at South Street Elementary School in Fitchburg in 1988. He remained there for the next 20 years, during which South Street was recognized as a “compass school” by the State House for their MCAS achievements. He has been married to his wife, Peg, for 40 years, has six children and nine grandchildren.