A Lifetime of Service
Bill Heller was first elected to the Florida House in 2006 and has earned a reputation among his colleagues for hard work, unquestionable integrity, and a willingness to work with members of both parties to find good solutions. But his dedication to public service isn't new -- he's been serving his country and community for more than a half-century.
Bill volunteered for the army during the Korean Conflict and served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. When he finished his service, he went to college on the GI Bill and became a teacher. He taught his first class in 1959. He returned to school, earning a master’s degree and a doctorate, and became a professor of education.
Bill became dean and CEO of USF-St. Petersburg in 1992. He led the fight to make it a four-year campus so local students could get a degree right here at home. When he stepped down as head of the campus in 2002, the City of St. Petersburg declared August 21 “Bill Heller Day” and honored him for a “Decade of Excellence.”
He is now a tenured professor of special education in the College of Education, training a new generation of teachers for Florida’s classrooms. He has also administered more than $6,000,000 in grants over the last eighteen years, including the Regional Dropout Prevention Collaborative, and a construction skills training program designed to help residents in St. Pete’s Challenge Area acquire job skills and get assistance in finding work.
Few individuals have had a greater impact on the quality of life of residents of Pinellas County than Bill. Take a look below at his service to the community on non-profit boards and government taskforces. Services for the developmentally disabled and families in need, arts and culture, community redevelopment and preservation -- Bill has been a leader in nearly every aspect of our community. And he's not just a name on the letterhead. Click here to read testimonials from the people who have served with him and under his leadership.
Bill has been married to Jeanne, his high school sweetheart for 56 years. They are the proud parents of three children and three grandchildren.
Community Service Highlights
- Albert Whitted Taskforce
- Bayfront Health System Board of Trustees, 2001 - present (Chair, 2003-2009)
- Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg, Chair, 2004-present
- Community Foundation of Tampa Bay
- Dunedin Fine Arts Center Advisory Board, 2007 - present
- Family Resources, Inc., 2002 - present
- Family Services Centers Board of Trustees, 1998 - 2007
- Florida International Museum Board of Directors
- Friendship Trail Oversight Committee Board of Trustees, 2007 - present
- Gulfcoast Museum of Art Board of Directors (Past Chair)
- Houghton-Wagman Great Explorations Children's Museum Board of Directors, 1997 - present (Chair 2005 - 2010)
- Leadership St. Petersburg, Co-Chair (with Gov. Bob Martinez) 2009 - present
- Mahaffey Theater Foundation Board of Trustees, 1997 - present (President, 2001-2002)
- Palladium Theater, Board of Directors
- PARC: Turning Disabilties into Capabilities, Board of Directors 2001-2006
- Pinellas County Cultural Council Board of Directors, 2004-present (Chair, 2007-present)
- SPCA of Tampa Bay Board of Directors, 1997 - present (Chair, 2006-2008)
- St. Petersburg Museum of History Board of Directors, 2006 - present
- St. Petersburg Preservation Board of Directors, 2001 - present
- Studio@620 Advisory Board, 2009 - present
- Suncoast Earth Force Community Advisory Board, 2008-2009
- Sunken Gardens Taskforce, Chair
Award and Distinctions
2010: Guardian of Independent Higher Education by the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida for his exemplary efforts on behalf of the students of Florida2010: Elected Official of the Year, Suncoast League of Cities
2010: PACE Award for “generous commitment to community efforts to enhance the mental health of Pinellas County”
2010: Award for Commitment to Quality Family Child Care, Family Child Care Home Association2010: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Outstanding Legislator Award
2008: Florida Chamber of Commerce Honor Roll
2008: Outstanding Advocacy and Significant Contribution, CARD – The Centers for Autism and Related Disabilities
2008: Community Leadership Award, DIRECTIONS for Mental Health, Inc.
2007: Advocacy Award, Family Service Centers, Inc.
2007: Outstanding Leadership on Educational Issues, Florida Association of Bilingual and ESOL Supervisors
2006: Outstanding Leadership Award, Council on Exceptional Children
2005: Chancellor’s Excellence in Service Award, USF St. Petersburg
2004: Community Service Award, Leadership St. Petersburg Alumni Association
2004: Chairman’s Award, Pinellas County Urban League
2002: Award for “making a difference in the lives of children,” Pinellas County School System
2002: Florida Suncoast Opera Guild Award for contributions to the cultural enrichment of the cities of Pinellas County
2002: Honored by the City of St. Petersburg for a “Decade of Excellence” with August 21 being proclaimed “Bill Heller Day” by the City of St. Petersburg
2002: Special Appreciation Award for services to the neighborhoods of St. Petersburg, Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA)
2000: Alex de Tocqueville Society Volunteer Service Award, United Way of Pinellas County
2000: Romaine Mackie Leadership Award in Special Education, Pioneer Division, Council for Exceptional Children
1988-1996: Recognized for outstanding contributions to the field of Special Education as Co-editor of Teaching Exceptional Children, Council for Exceptional Children
1996: Recognized for outstanding contributions to the Betterment of the Community, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
1991: E. Wallace Wallin Award, this is the highest honor bestowed by the Council and is predicated on excellence in leadership, service, and accomplishments in the education of children with exceptionalities, Council for Exceptional Children
1991: Educational Leadership Award, Phi Delta Kappa, Charlotte Chapter
1991: Outstanding Service Award to an ROTC unit, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Department of Defense
1989: Inducted into the University of Northern Colorado’s Hall of Fame as one of its top 100 graduates in the University’s 100 year history
1987: Administrator of the Year Award, North Carolina Association for Counseling and Development
1984: Felix S. Barker Award for distinguished service to exceptional children in North Carolina, North Carolina Federation, Council for Exceptional Children
1981: Teacher Educator of the Year Award, Teacher Education Division, Council of Exceptional Children and the Merrill Publishing Company. This is the highest award given in special education for exemplary accomplishment as a teacher/educator
1979: Outstanding Faculty Member, College of Education, University of Alabama
1977: Awarded a Presidential Citation for Exemplary Performance as Vice-Chairman, White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals
1976: Commendation for Exemplary Service as Superintendent of Bryce Hospital, Alabama Senate Resolution #117
1976: Commissioner’s Award, Commendation for Exemplary Service as Superintendent of Bryce Hospital, Alabama Department of Mental Health
1974: American Association of College of Teacher Education Award for Disti8nguished Achievement for the Reality Oriented Teacher Education Program (ROTE)
1971: Merit Award for Exemplary Service in Government, U.S. Office of Education, Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, Washington, D.C.
1970: Merit Award for Exemplary Service in Government, U.S. Office of Education, Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, Washington, D.C.
1964: Recipient, P.L. 85-826 Doctoral Fellowship in Special Education
1963: Recipient, P.L. 85-826 Doctoral Fellowship in Special Education
