BILL'S STORY.
In His Own Words.
"If it is to be, it is up to me." -William Johnsen
My parents grew up in the Depression, and my father became a lawyer. My grandparents were immigrants. I always admired how hard they worked and how much it meant to them to have the freedoms allowed in this country. They made a deep impression on me. I later commissioned books on my grandparents so my kids and grandkids would reflect on what makes a happy life: hard work, some disappointments, and earned success.
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I was born in August 1938 and grew up in Boulder, Colorado. I have one sister who is two years younger than I am. I loved sports in high school and was elected Head Boy, a leadership role in the Student Council. I skied and played football and golf. I got involved in dramatics and had lead roles in several plays. I learned a great deal from each experience. I graduated from the University of Colorado business school. I was elected the President of my fraternity. After college, I served two years of active duty in the Navy. I served on the USS Bennington, an anti-submarine warfare support aircraft carrier. Through my Naval experience, I saw other parts of the world, and it reinforced how unique and important our personal freedoms are in this country.
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I started my business in 1966 as a real estate brokerage company exclusively focused on developing, leasing, and managing its own portfolio of properties. Today, the W.W. Reynolds Companies own, manage, and or lease more than 3 million square feet of commercial office, retail, and industrial property in Boulder, northern Colorado, and along the Colorado Front Range.
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I married Linda (Jane) Taylor from Flint, Michigan, in April 1968. At the time of this writing, we have been together for 55 years. We have three children: John, Forrest, and Hillary and we have five grandchildren. Marriage was important to both of us, we respect each other and have worked at making it successful. Jane and my kids have their own philanthropic interests.
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