WHO IS THIS "COWBOY BILL?"
By Susan Wright - Friends of the Daytona Beach Regional Library
William A. Cummins aka "Cowboy Bill" has had a long and full life as a singing and rope twirling cowboy, horse trainer, professional engineer, author, publisher, and businessman.
Retired after decades as an engineer, Bill Cummins has reverted to his origins as a cowboy performer, traveling the country to share tales of his experiences and lessons he’s learned along the way as he demonstrates his skill with a rope. On March 6, 2012, he appeared at the Daytona Beach Regional Library in a show called, "Trick Roping and Political Horse Sense from a Feed Bucket Philosopher."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PvbXOoJp1Qs
Cummins still sounds more like the farm boy from Ohio than the successful, well-traveled engineer he became. He includes the rope tricks he used in his stage and radio act as a cowboy entertainer in the late 1940’s. He started out performing as a singing cowboy with a style modeled on Gene Autry and a palomino stallion that performed like Trigger. His act was a combination of the two most popular cowboy movie stars of the day.
If his earlier performances suggested the influence of the popular Roy Rogers, his most recent programs will remind audiences more of another "Rogers - Will." In his current incarnation, Cummins’ act is horseless, relying more on the wisdom acquired in decades of living, along with rope-twirling demonstrations.
Bill explains that he wasn’t brought up as a cowboy. His father was a farmer who didn’t care for riding horses or cowboys for that matter- but Bill developed a love for horses early on, and managed to train a handsome palomino stallion named King to talk and pray on stage. While still a teenager, he launched his career with King, leaving the farm to take their act on the road in the Midwest. During his show business career he rode horseback 300 miles from his home in Ohio to Chicago, Illinois.
While three brothers served in Korea, Bill was kept out of the service by a childhood hand injury. He also found religion, and says he felt God had guided him into engineering. It was then he knew he’d have to leave the performing life. Working full time he home studied mechanical engineering by correspondence and part-time college attendance.
He is very proud to have become a registered professional engineer and earned the honor of "Diplomate in the American Academy of Environmental Engineers." He said millions of people now safely drink water from the water plants he designed in and around Ohio.
In the latest phase of his life, Bill is hardly retired. In addition to performing he has written several books based on his experiences, launched a publishing business specializing in what he calls “Celebrity Authors” and in the process has become an award winning author.
His books include:
- "KING and the COWBOY"—the Saga of Smilin’ Bill and His Wonder Horse King
- "LIFE IS SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED"—Why Marriage is All about Cleaving, based on his success with two marriages, and
- "THE FORGOTTEN” —Volume One, based upon stories by Korean War Veterans
See books at: http://www.caipublishing.net
Bill’s first wife, Phyllis, died suddenly after they had been married 44 years… a marriage that produced three children, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandson. His second wife, Ann, now accompanies him to his speaking engagements, and he’s proud of his relationship with her two children and three grandchildren.
Bill also teaches the tricks of his various trades; from rope-twirling to successful marriage and recently taught courses in writing, publishing, and promotion of books. He is a man of many passions and skills honed over decades of living life to the fullest!
