Bill Heller facts for kids

Harold William Heller (born September 3, 1935 – died September 11, 2020) was an American politician and educator. He was often known as Bill Heller.

Bill Heller worked as a leader in education. He was the Dean of the College of Education at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. He also directed a center there focused on good leadership. Before these roles, he served two terms in the Florida House of Representatives. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for Florida. He represented District 52.

Heller was very involved in his community. He helped many non-profit groups. He led the Pinellas County Cultural Foundation. He also served on boards for groups like Family Resources and The Mahaffey Theater Foundation. He and his wife were married for 59 years. They had three children and three grandchildren.

Bill Heller's Early Life and Education

Bill Heller was born in Scales Mound, Illinois. In 1954, he attended Bradley University. From 1954 to 1956, he served in the United States Army. He was part of the 82nd Airborne Division. He earned special badges for parachuting and rifle skills.

He continued his education after the Army. In 1959, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. This was in elementary and special education from Southern Illinois University. In 1961, he received a Master of Science degree. This was in guidance and counseling from Northern Illinois University. He then earned a Doctor of Education degree in 1964. This degree in special education was from the University of Northern Colorado.

Heller's Career in Education

From 1980 to 1992, Bill Heller was a dean at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He led the College of Education. In 1992, he moved to Florida. He became the head of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. He was the first permanent leader there in three years.

His job was to help the campus grow. He focused on business, liberal arts, and journalism programs. He also worked to finish building the library and marine center. Heller led the St. Petersburg campus as its dean and chief executive officer. He held this position from 1992 to 2002. He later became a faculty member there.

Bill Heller's Political Campaigns

In 2006, Bill Heller decided to run for the Florida House of Representatives. He wanted to represent District 52. Many local Democratic leaders supported him. He was encouraged to run by Betty Castor. She was a former president of USF.

Heller had a lot of community connections. This helped him raise money quickly. He was able to connect with many people he knew. The St. Petersburg Times newspaper supported Heller. They praised his ability to solve problems. They also liked his work to make USF St. Petersburg more independent. He won the primary election.

Heller then faced Republican Angelo Cappelli in the main election. They had different views on some social issues. Heller believed in working with others. He supported prosecuting crimes based on sexual orientation. He also supported same-sex unions. Cappelli was seen as more strict.

Heller's long history in the community helped him. He was known for working with people from different parties. The St. Petersburg Times again supported Heller. They said his views better matched the voters in District 52. Despite some negative ads, Heller won the election easily. He was popular because of his community work.

First Term in the Florida Legislature

In his first term, Bill Heller served on several important committees. These included committees for Agribusiness and Post Secondary Education. He was the top Democrat on the Post Secondary Education Committee. He also helped create several new laws.

One bill he supported was about designated drivers. This bill made it illegal for bars to require people to drink. Another bill he helped with focused on protecting homeless people. It made punishments tougher for those who attacked homeless individuals.

Heller also voted to support the use of school vouchers. This was a new idea for many Democrats. He said he changed his mind after talking to parents. These parents used vouchers to send their children to private schools. He believed it was about getting a good education.

Campaign and Re-election in 2008

In 2008, Bill Heller ran for re-election. He received support from many groups. The Suncoast Group for the Sierra Club supported him. The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce also endorsed him. The St. Petersburg Times again supported his campaign.

They praised his ability to work with different political parties. They also highlighted his experience as an educator. They said he helped reduce the influence of the FCAT. This was a big state test. He also worked to ensure autistic children could get health care.

Heller won re-election on November 4, 2008. He defeated Republican Ross Johnson with 60% of the votes. Their campaign was friendly. They even waved to voters side by side. He had support from both Republican and Democratic leaders.

Death

Bill Heller passed away on September 11, 2020.

Sources

• "State House Districts 52, 54, 55, 56 elections." Baynews9. November 5, 2008. Online. November 5, 2008.