Bill Heishman Obituary, Death Cause – Bill Heishman is someone who we would like to present to you. Bill was born and raised in this town, making him a true native of Draft. His family history may be traced back to the early 1900s, when his great grandpa George Herbaugh ran Herbaugh’s Country Store on Wayne Avenue. The store was located in the large two-story building that is directly across the street from Millers Bakery. In addition to that, he is the current President of the Draft Diamond Club.
The Augusta County American Legion for three years, the Rockingham County League for two years with the Harriston Braves, and the Waynesboro Generals for two years. Bill received his education at Dunsmore Business College as well as BRCC. He retired as the Regional Administrator for Shenandoah Valley in 2003 after working for the Virginia Department of Taxation for a total of 34 years before taking his retirement. Along with Steve Snyder, he was a co-founder of the Stuarts Draft Golf Association in 1974, which is just one of the many things that he has done to benefit our town.
Orvin Kiser Jr. (Tinker) extended an invitation to him to become a member of the Draft Diamond Club in 2009. Bill inquired, “to do what?” (to what end). Tinker said “Be President”. Bill claims that at that time he was aware that there was no other candidate interested in the position. In spite of this, he agreed to do it because he felt obligated to give something back to the community for all of the opportunities to play baseball that he had received when he was growing up in the Draft, and also because the field had a special place in his heart. In 2009, they only had 13 signs (which were one of their primary sources of operational revenue), but now they have a whole fence with over 70 sponsors. For all of the assistance they’ve given, Bill is extremely grateful to the Draft community.
When he was a child living in the Draft during the 1950s and 1960s, he was a member of Boy Scouts Troop 84 (which still exists today; they met at the white structure at the corner of Draft Avenue and Cambridge Drive.). He participated in little league baseball, Babe Ruth baseball, and little league football at what is now known as the Diamond Club. In 1958, Orvin Kiser, Sr. founded the first little league football program in this area, and Bill was 12 years old when he was a member of the first team. In the 1960s, when he was still a youngster, he played in a neighborhood “rock and roll” band called “The Draftsmen.” After that, he continued his baseball career by participating in the varsity program at Wilson High School for three years.