William Harris “Bill” Price passed away peacefully June 14, 2023 at Alive Hospice Residence in Murfreesboro, at age 87. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 with funeral services at 1 at Summers and Son Funeral Home in Russellville.. Interment will follow in Belmont Cemetery in Allensville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard E. Price and Jeanetta Harris Price, and his brother, David Aldon Price. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Kathryn Wright Price; his sister-in-law, Donna Wright Walker; his niece, Jessica Kathryn Walker; and his Godchildren, Duncan Williams, Kathryn Williams Criswell, and Kaitlyn Williams.
Mr. Price was born July 10, 1935 in Liberty. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Christian County. Later, they relocated to Logan County when their farm became part of Fort Campbell.
Bill graduated from Olmstead High School in 1954 where he played basketball. Following high school, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force and returned to attend Austin Peay State College, using the G.I. Bill to finance his education. He received his B.S. Degree in Mathematics in 1962. In 1963, he received his M.A. Degree in Mathematics from George Peabody College (now Vanderbilt University). In 1965, he did further graduate study at Peabody and in 1965 he was selected for a four-year National Science Foundation Grant to study Mathematics at the University of Illinois.
His teaching career began in 1963 as a supervising teacher and instructor of Mathematics at Austin Peay’s Demonstration School. In addition, he taught Mathematics at Austin Peay’s Center at Fort Campbell. In 1964, he joined the faculty in the Department of Mathematics at Middle Tennessee State College (now University) and retired in 1997.
Throughout the years, he was very active in the Tennessee Mathematics Teacher Association, serving on the Executive Board for more than ten years; as vice-president for two years and president for two years. He was very involved with state high school and junior high school mathematics contests, serving as Tennessee Contest Chairman and Contest Center Chairman. Bill was a life member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and a member of other math organizations.
Mr. Price served MTSU in numerous ways, chairing committees, developing courses, supervising graduate teaching assistants, and overseeing the Mathematics labs. In addition, he reviewed numerous textbooks for various publishing companies.
Bill was a loyal fan of MTSU Blue Raider and Lady Raider basketball since 1964. He kept the same season ticket seats in Murphy Center since it opened and was a member of the Blue Raider Athletic Association since it was founded approximately 35 years ago.
He enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and more than 40 countries. Fishing was a hobby he enjoyed and in 1972 he was the national winner for catching the largest sauger and held the Kentucky record for over 20 years. His greatest joy was spending time on his family farm in Allensville.
Mr. Price was a Mason for 65 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, a Kentucky Colonel and a Tennessee Colonel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alive Hospice Residence, 1629 Williams Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 or the Belmont Cemetery, Georg Fox, Treasurer, 3979 Old Allensville Road, Elkton, KY 42220.
Active Pallbearers: Willard “Bobo” Jackson, Noah Maignan, Larry Powell, Charles Ralston, Charles “Chuck” Shaw, and Tommy Watkins.
Honorary Pallbearers: Drs. Donald Campbell, Curtis Church, Joe Evans, Philip Mathis, and Marion Wells. Andrea Hill, Kristell Lockridge, Hunter McFarlin, and Allen Richardson.