A Dedicated Public Servant: Hallandale Beach Has Lost One of Its Heroes

Last Tuesday, Hallandale Beach lost another great Hero, Vice Mayor, Friend, Veteran and Dedicated Public Servant, Vice Mayor William ‘Bill” Julian. I first met Bill at a Crime Watch Meeting. As a long resident for years, he had decided to give back to the city and get involved in community service. During that time, former Mayor Joe Scavo, who was a retired New York Police Officer, was encouraging Bill to get involved and run for office.

We had some great volunteers at that time in The Crime Watch. Chief Lawrence Faragher was our current Chief and Assistant, Chief Tom Magill, who later became Chief, had started a strong commitment, to address the rampant drug dealing, that was taking place in our city. The multi-pronged approach, included reestablishing the Crime Watch. Bill stepped up and became the President of The Crime Watch.

Bill was also there to volunteer. He was an active member of The Crime Watch and later in 2001, he was elected to the Commission. In addition to The Crime Watch, Bill was also volunteering and working for the most vulnerable and underserved in the City. Chief Tom Magill, began our PAL Program, which is still going strong today. Bill and the entire Commission, were so excited to make sure our kids had a safe place to play and grow. We all got involved in Hope For The Holidays, Shop With A Cop, Poker Nights, etc. You name it, Bill was always there, with a helping hand. He also became involved in Kiwanis. He hosted A Pasta Dinner Annually, to raise funds for both organizations.

In addition to The Crime Watch, PAL and The Kiwanis, Bill also volunteered with the Future Foundation. The Future Foundation, was established to support arts and cultural activities for our children. This program was run by a group of volunteers, from the City and Local Businesses. We held fundraisers, two concerts and provided grants to our Schools and Non-Profit Organizations. It was a shame, that negative politics had started to cast unfound attacks, on the good works of this group.

Bill’s work did not stop there. He was a fixture at The Hallandale Beach Food Pantry, run by Paul Snow. He would do food pick up deliveries weekly and at one time, the pantry was up to two hundred turkeys, a year.

Bill was also a Friend of The Hallandale POPS. He helped raise funds and attended concerts when he could. He also worked on The Cancer Society, Jail and Bail and when we held it, The Relay for Life. He also was a proud member of The Italian American Club, as well.

As a Veteran Of The US Air Force and son of a WWII Hero, Bill was truly committed to supporting our Veterans. He was Commander Of The American Legion Post, right here, in Hallandale Beach. During our Memorial Day Services, Bill took great pride in displaying our Local Veteran’s History. He created tributes to them, complete with plane pictures and other items. Our History, would not be the same, if it was not for Bill. He championed our Historical Commission and worked with one of the daughters, of our founding Curci Family, to ensure that the Curci House and Village, were preserved.

Bill also brought forward, on behalf of The Community Civic Association, The Renaming Of 8th Avenue to: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. He also worked to expand the MLK Parade to Hallandale Beach Boulevard. We always walked, side by side, along the route.

He also worked outside of the City. When Hurricane Katrina hit, he participated, in a relief trip. He helped another Florida City, that was in financial difficulty, with the donation, of a used fire truck, that we were going to dispose of.

On a personal note, Bill was a Dear Friend. My children grew up knowing him and he shared many family events. My Dad and Mom, also enjoyed seeing Bill on their visits, in the winter. After his Dad’s death, Bill was a devoted son. He was always by his Mother's side. He cared for many of our old single woman friends. He was always driving, Former Mayor Dottie Ross and Vice Mayor, Fran Schiller to events and conferences. He had one surviving Cousin, Steve Padovano. Sadly, Steve’s wife, recently passed away.

Over the recent years with his health failing, I know he was disappointed, that I did not encourage him to run again for office. With his poor health and the continued stresses, of his Diabetes, I truly did not think it was wise. I encouraged him to continue to Volunteer, enjoy his life, his cars and focus on what should have been his top priority, his health. The last time we spoke, he wanted to get better and start back at the track, doing early morning horse walking. Service, however was in his DNA and one of his last FB comments, was that, he was running for Office, again.

As friends, we enjoyed the best of times and the worst of times. I believe that is what life is about. Hallandale Beach, caring for others and helping those in need, were Bills passion. He was a true public servant and Hallandale Beach, has lost one of its Heroes.

As of the writing of this article, the goal is to have a double brick dedicated, in his honor at our Veterans Memorial located at City Hall. If all goes as planned, it will be on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021 around 5:00 p.m. Please follow my FB page for updates. A church service, may be held at St. Matthew's Church, this Friday, September 3rd, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., but this is dependent, upon on the receipt, of his ashes.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns and ideas to make our City, a better place, on my phone/text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can e-mail me at: jcooper@cohb.org Please visit my Facebook Page: MayorJoyCooper. Like It! Friend It! Share It!