William Wilson Jr., the second of three children of William Wilson Sr. and Lucille Weston Wilson, was born on May 2, 1947. He was known as “Billy” to his childhood friends and “WW” to fellow comrades in the FDNY. He was born in Harlem Hospital and lived in the Village of Harlem for most of his life. William attended St. Mark Roman Catholic Elementary School and George Washington High School in New York City.

William enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam conflict and was honorably discharged in 1970. Upon returning to New York City, he was employed by the New York State Labor Department and was a freelance photographer. In 1977, William joined the Fire Department of New York and was assigned to Engine Company 84. He served there until he was promoted to the rank of fire marshal in 1985. At the firehouse shared by Ladder 80 and Engine 84, Billy found mentors and formed deep friendships that lasted until his death. He also learned to cook, mastering the preparation of several dishes that he loved to prepare for his beloved children. While serving as a fire marshal, William investigated many fire-related incidents, including the notable Happy Lands fire in the Bronx.

While on duty the morning of September 11, 2001, at the Manhattan Base in Soho, Manhattan, William was among the first FDNY personnel to rush to the World Trade Center, responding to the first plane collision. He worked on Ground Zero rescue and recovery for several months thereafter. William retired from the FDNY in December 2001.

William loved to fish, coach sports, and take photographs. Often, in his free time, William would go deep sea fishing, return home, and share his catch with neighbors. He coached his two children and countless others in the Harlem Little League in both baseball and softball, spanning more than 15 years. Capturing events and people on film was a deep passion, and William often had a camera with him to capture those moments. Affectionately called “Fire Marshal Bill” or “The stop, drop, and roll man,” William taught fire safety to preschoolers and took great pride in distributing fire department mementos.

Important to William was his family and his home in Harlem. He and his fellow firefighters worked to bring the townhouse he purchased to livable condition, and he settled in and became known as the protector of the block. William took his last breath at home on the 15th of July 2006, two-and-a-half years after being diagnosed with cancer.