BILL MESERVE lives in Glen Arbor Township,
is a retired aerospace engineer, and enjoys
fishing and woodworking.

Name: Bill Meserve.

Town or township of residence: “I’m closer to Glen Arbor, but my mail address is Maple City. But I am in Glen Arbor Township.”

Resident of county since: “Well, four years and a bit. But my grandfather bought the property we live on now in 1924, on the east side of big Glen Lake.”

Birth date and place: July 2, 1944, in Kirkland, Wash. “My dad was working in the ship building industry during the war.”

Occupation: “I’m an aerospace engineer, retired. I was in the Los Angeles area for the last 35 years, working for the last 25 years with a medium-sized aerospace company. But I still do some consulting in the aircraft business with companies that are adding parts onto airplanes, specifically those adding fire protection to cargo compartments.”

Marital status: “Married, to Susanne. We have five children.”

You live in Leelanau County because: “When I retired, I decided to take over the family cottage on Glen Lake, and I love it here.”

Last good movie you saw: “We don’t go out to movies, but we have cable television with HBO and all that stuff. The best recent one was probably Wild Hogs.

Last good book you read: “It was an interesting book, and it was called The Overlook, by Michael Connelly. It’s the typical rogue police guy investigating supposed terrorists. Turned out that it was actually the wife who set up a theft of radioactive material used in medicine to kill her husband. She and her boyfriend made it look like terror.”

If you could trade places with one person for a day, who would that be: “The first name that came to mind was John McCain, but I guess I would rather try it with Barack Obama. It would be nice to be out with all kinds of people who want to shake your hand and listen to you.”

Things important to you that you have accomplished so far: “I have learned all about volunteerism. Things that I would not have had the time or inclination to do while I was working, I now do. They include Habitat for Humanity, and the food pantry. I’m the buyer for the Empire area food pantry and work there on Thursday evenings. I like to meet people who come in to get the food. And I’m the mentor of a fourth grade student at Glen Lake school, one hour for one day a week. This could go on as long as he wants to do it. It’s called Kids Hope USA.”

What you hope to be doing in 10 years: “I hope to be doing the same thing I’m doing now.”

Things you lose sleep over: “I don’t loose sleep over anything. I didn’t lose sleep when I was working, either. It’s just my personality.”

If you could change one thing in Leelanau County, it would be: “I’d like to limit construction along the crest of the hills. A lot of building that is going on is quite visible, including a lot of mansions on the lake. You can’t see our place, it’s hidden behind trees.”

Favorite dessert: “Oh, that would be pecan pie. It could have whipped cream, or a little ice cream once in awhile.”

Are you a coffee drinker: “Nope. I have a cup of orange juice. I just never learned to drink it, and I don’t need that caffeine in the morning to get going. I am a morning person.”

Favorite place in Leelanau County: “My favorite is right here at my place on Glen Lake, but we love to walk the dunes in the summer and in the winter.”

If you had more time, you would: “I have time, so that’s a tough question. I’ve got hobbies that I love, woodworking and fishing. So if I had more time I’d do more of those.”

The words that best describe you are: “I’m pretty quiet. How about easy going?”