William Leon McPhail III

On a snowy day of December 6, 1971, William Leon Mcphail, lll was born at home, to his mother Solange McPhail. He was delivered by his own father William Leon McPhail II, M.D.( the late Dr. McPhail preceded him in death in 1994). William lll would be the 3rd of 4 children and their only son.

The family home was filled with music and instruments. It wouldn't be very long before he was banging on piano keys. It was demonstrated almost immediately that he was very gifted. As a toddler he would often amaze everyone with his speech and brilliance. As a youngster he would shock the family dismantling and reassembling the tv, radio and other electronics because he " wondered how they worked." He loved piano and computer keyboards.

William was mild mannered and inquisitive. As a child he would read and write voraciously; things like sci- fi, theorems, chemistry experiments, and musical compositions. He was a chess master and could even check-mate the computer.

He was the kid that would easily solve riddles and puzzles like Rubix's cube in mere seconds. There was hardly a video game that challenged him. He excelled in Mathematics, Science and of course Music Arts. At Gesu Elementary, he played first-chair clarinet in the school band.

For Junior High school he was sent to University of Detroit Jesuit where he shone bright like a star beginning engineering and applied technology. He also attended Martin Luther King High School wherein he participated in an accelerated advanced academics placement program and even won the Detroit Public Schools Science Fair. His winning submission: a personal project that he had been developing all along in his spare time just for fun. Line- for -line he coded his very own video game. He was only 14. William finished high school at Detroit's Henry Ford. He created a legacy when he composed a marching band songs that were performed by the Henry Ford Trojan band students.

He fostered many life-long friendships along the way with a common thread: love of live music and technology.

After graduating high school, William went on to attend University of Tennessee in 1990 Majoring in Music. He later decided to enlist in the United States Army in 1992. His talents served him well in his position as a specialist for some years. California and Nevada also attracted him. Westward bound he went so that he could further pursue endeavors of his music.

In 1994 after the loss of his father, he returned to the Detroit area. He spent tireless and countless hours in the recording studio working alongside some of the industry's greats. Music was a sanctuary for him. He was part of a production squad that made popular hits that resulted in both local and national recognition. He co-wrote jingles and various commercial concepts while working with Wrightway Media Enterprises. William also secured employment at AT&T, from 1997 -2005, discovering a promising niche in IT.

Being the strategist, the thinker, and the programmer that he was, William was a natural-born problem solver. He would quickly find solutions for issues, situations and problems that had others baffled for hours, days, or even weeks. He garnered promotions more rapidly than the average employee. He had high ambitions and high tastes in cars, clothing and shoes.

William never had children of his own but he helped raise several. He always wanted to help others, especially the youth. He always had a kind word of encouragement.

Uniquely, 2013 brought another IT position with Windstream Holdings that would relocate him to Ohio. Ever seeking better and bigger opportunities to spread his wings, He later found himself in Tulsa, Oklahoma in October of 2018. He got recruited for a venture at Zayo Group to expound upon new frontiers in his field. He always wanted to be of help to his fellow man and was fondly remembered for his speedy apt to problem solve as well as the willingness to help others.

William departed from this life in August 2019. The answers to this mystery are still being sought. The questions are still being asked. We shall mourn this loss in this lifetime and well into the next.

He leaves to cherish his precious memories his Mother, Solange McPhail. Sisters Danielle Isaac (Herbert), Lisa McPhail, Christina McPhail -Stockdale (Mark). Nieces Madison Isaac, Harper and Ryann Stockdale, Aunts, Uncles, Godmother, Cousins and a host of many other relatives, friends and co- workers who love him and will miss him dearly.