The William H. Simpson Memorial Fund

Established by Judy Simpson in 2025 in memory of her loving husband Bill. The Funds will support the Hershey ALS Clinic Team in appreciation for their compassionate and committed care of Bill as he fought ALS.

 
Bill Simpson, a lifelong train enthusiast from Ithaca, New York, was influenced by his father’s passion for trains, leading to memorable travels across the U.S., Canada, and Europe in the 1940s and 1950s. After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in 1963, he served as an officer in the Air Force until 1971. Notably, he was the first cadet to take a leave of absence to attend law school, earning his degree from Harvard Law School in 1966 before returning to serve in the JAG Corps in Germany.

In 1971, Bill began his professional career in York, Pennsylvania, at Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Company, eventually becoming President of Manufacturing and CEO until 2006. A dedicated community leader, he served on multiple non-profit boards and was actively involved with the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates and the USAFA Endowment.

Though Bill passed away in 2012 without seeing his beloved steam engine in operation, he would be proud of the ongoing efforts by his family, the Anderson family, and numerous employees and volunteers dedicated to the project since its inception.

Locomotive #17 William H. Simpson

To learn more about Bill’s dream come true, please visit: www.northerncentralrailway.com

Bill and granddaughter Emma