Dr. William R. Rayburn

In Loving Memory of Dr. William (Bill) R. Rayburn

April 7, 1940 – June 16, 2025

Bill Rayburn, 85, passed away peacefully at home on June 16, 2025 from Pleural Mesothelioma. Born on April 7, 1940, in St. Louis, Missouri, Bill was the son of James Robert and Ethel M. (Miller) Rayburn. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara; daughters Jennifer (Josh) and Christine (Dave); grandchildren, Elle, Max, Charlotte, and Ari as well as brother and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dr. William (Bill) R. Rayburn was many things: a pioneering biologist, a transformative educator, and a distinguished university administrator. But perhaps his proudest roles were those of devoted husband to Barbara and wholehearted father to Jennifer and Christine, whom he, as a former member of the Coast Guard Reserve, woke every morning with the booming declaration, over the intercom “Reveille, Reveille! Up all hands and hit the decks, sailors!” There was no sleeping in on Bill’s watch.

At bedtime, Bill would tuck his daughters in singing the Beta Theta Pi lullaby. A proud member of Beta Theta Pi at Washington University in St. Louis, Bill had a beautiful singing voice, often breaking into Beta songs or show tunes at home without prompting.

To his grandchildren, “Grandpa” was a wise guy in the best and truest sense. He was intelligent and endlessly knowledgeable, and also witty, fun-loving, and charming. Bill was always ready with a playful joke or goofy saying that made any moment lighter and more joyful. He was known to “have the fastest hands west of the Mississippi” and often reminded his grandchildren that “to get ahead, you have to have one” or “trust me on this.” These playful declarations, delivered with a grin, became beloved family lore.

His charm was one of his defining characteristics. Whether speaking with a waitress, flight attendant, hotel bellman, grocery store clerk, or the USPS delivery person, Bill had a way of making meaningful small talk that made people feel seen and special. His warmth transcended settings and borders; it was an extra-special trait, witnessed time and again in countless scenarios. Bill was an exceptional speaker, even when put on the spot. When asked to deliver a toast or offer advice, he always spoke with thoughtfulness, humility, and care. At his granddaughter Elle’s college graduation celebration, when guests were spontaneously asked to share life advice, his one-minute speech left many in tears and drew a stream of people afterward who thanked him for his heartfelt words.

Bill offered the same sincerity and wisdom in private moments. When his son-in-law Josh was weighing a transition from a profession he loved to a managerial role in an adjacent field, Bill offered compassionate counsel, encouraging Josh to embrace the growth ahead, reassuring him that there were no wrong answers. Bill’s belief that passion and a sense of purpose are the real drivers of success, and that skills can always be learned, gave Josh confidence in his choice and continues to guide him every day.

Christine fondly remembers feeling “cool” in middle school with Dad on a shopping trip to the Moscow Mall when he bought her a colorful floral ESPRIT bag that her mom had vetoed. It was a gesture of fatherly solidarity and affection that she still treasures to this day. She also recalls the two of them getting a hilariously too small Christmas tree from a run down lot near the Tumwater airport, only to discover, after Bill cut it to fit the stand, that it was now shorter than she was. “We laughed so much about that silly little tree,” recalls Christine.

Jennifer looks back on Bill’s visits to Seattle during his time as associate director with the Washington Technology Center, and later to Massachusetts, as special father-daughter adventures. Searching for the best seafood bisque, seeing Jerry Seinfeld perform and visiting the Burke Museum. In retirement, Bill returned to the Burke many times and developed a deep appreciation for Pacific Northwest Native art. Forming friendships with artists and gallery owners, Bill and Barbara enjoyed attending tribal exhibitions that deepened their understanding of Indigenous traditions. Bill was especially drawn to the stories and artistry behind the work, from totem pole carvings and rattles, to basketry and contemporary glass.

Bill and Barbara were Star Trek fans, which they shared with their children and grandchildren. Bill admired the show’s sense of adventure, focus on science and ethics, and belief in a better future. To his family, “Live long and prosper” wasn’t just Spock’s farewell. The phrase reflected Bill’s own values of reason, empathy and curiosity. These values defined his life and his parenting style. Bill supported the Girl Scouts, proudly serving on the Inland Empire Council board and celebrating Jennifer’s Gold Award. A lifelong basketball fan, he once dreamed of going pro. Bill played point guard at Cleveland High School, played for Washington University and later played on WSU faculty intramural teams. He volunteered as an intramural and Big Ten ROTC basketball referee and a FIFA soccer referee in Pullman while cheering from the sidelines as Jennifer and Christine played on city leagues.

Resourceful and hard working, Bill had talents that extended far beyond his professional life. In 1978, he and Barbara designed and built their first house with the help of friends and an open-minded contractor. Bill built and laminated all the cabinetry himself, installed the electrical wiring, and even put in the electric heating system. In 2006, they built their dream retirement home, carefully landscaping it with native plants. Bill found a lot of joy in the garden. Over the years he adding detailed hand built fences and arbors that added beauty and charm to the landscape while also standing guard against the deer who saw it as their personal buffet. He and Barbara also spent many happy hours helping to plant and care for their daughters’ gardens. Exceptionally capable and creative, Bill had a gift for repairs, organization and project management, and he maintained an organized, well-run ship.

Bill fully embraced Barbara’s Swedish heritage, leaning in with enthusiasm and making it his own. Every Christmas Eve, the family gathered for a Swedish-style smörgåsbord. For Bill and Barbara, it was more than a meal; it was a celebratory cultural exchange and an opportunity for storytelling. Over the years, the table included not just family but friends, neighbors and new acquaintances, all welcomed with warmth and good cheer. Bill was a delightful and inclusive host, making sure to give each guest a heartfelt skål, always looking them directly in the eye before and after downing his aquavit. The evening’s finale was his rice pudding, made with a splash of specially chosen amontillado sherry. With great care and a bit of mischief, he would serve each portion, always keeping the hidden almond’s location a mystery. Over the years Bill became an excellent bread baker, applying his scientific mind to the chemistry of ingredients and perfecting family recipes. Everyone loved his English muffin bread, his saffron buns and his beautifully crafted “Swedish Tea Ring” was the centerpiece of Christmas morning.

A wine enthusiast, Bill loved discussing global varietals, tasting notes, and cellar organization with his sons-in-law, Dave and Josh. He and Barbara were loyal supporters of Washington’s growing wine industry, attending Washington wine tastings and visiting local wineries long before the region gained national recognition. Their shared curiosity and sense of adventure took the family across the globe. Together, they explored national parks, attended World’s Fairs, and once embarked on an unforgettable Amtrak journey through the American West and Midwest. In 1985, when Bill presented his research on algal growth at the International Phycological Congress in Copenhagen, the family traveled for a month visiting Barbara’s family in Scandinavia. In 1987, Bill had the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting Hawaii and took his family there for the first time. After that, Bill returned to Kauai many times, and it became his favorite place in the world. Through the years, Bill and Barbara cruised to nearly every continent on journeys filled with cultural excursions, snorkeling adventures, fascinating conversations with fellow travelers, and, of course, wine tasting at every opportunity.

Bill’s daughters fondly joke that sometimes they may have avoided asking for his help on homework, not because he wasn’t helpful (he absolutely was), but because a one-minute question often turned into a two-hour lecture involving molecular pathways, genomes, and historical data. A casual nature walk often included a spontaneous quiz on plant identification. And yet, this deep, uncontainable love of learning is exactly what he passed on to his children, grandchildren, and students alike. Bill’s academic career began with a B.A. in Botany from Washington University in St. Louis, where as an undergraduate, he served as a teaching assistant for Botany 101, setting the stage for a lifelong dedication to education. This was followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in Botany from Indiana University. But Bill’s love of the natural world started earlier. Even as a child in the Dutchtown neighborhood of St Louis, he was an avid gardener and had a habit of adopting wild animals as pets, including, famously, a skunk he named Gardenia.

Bill joined Washington State University (WSU) in 1967, where he would spend three decades shaping generations of students and advancing the mission of public higher education. A member of the faculty in biology, botany, and microbiology, Bill was recognized for his vibrant classroom presence and commitment to student learning. While most professors walked into class, Bill once rose into it via the theatre lift in Bryan Auditorium wearing a wide-brimmed hat and cracking a whip in full Indiana Jones fashion. The crowd of students roared! Even with classes of 500 students, Bill made biology personal often stepping off the stage and walking among the students, asking questions and kindling curiosity. His enthusiasm was contagious, his delivery dynamic, and his ability to simplify complex scientific ideas became the gold standard in his field. His lectures, lauded for their clarity and passion, consistently earned among the highest student evaluations. Ever the encourager, he also had a sweet incentive for excellence. Students who earned an “A” on Biology 104 exams were invited by Bill to join him for celebratory ice cream at WSU’s Ferdinand’s Creamery.

His daughters worked as his radio DJs putting together Bill’s walk-on music. Every week, they recorded the top 10-15 songs from American Top 40 on cassette tape, which he would loudly play in the auditorium before lectures. When Bill turned the music off, the students quieted down and his lecture would begin. Bill was the lead author of the laboratory manual used in WSU’s introductory biology courses, penning innovative exercises that became legendary among students. One such exercise, designed to teach heredity using sealed "gene" envelopes in mock student pairings, brilliantly illuminated biological principles while engaging students with hands-on learning.

A pioneering advocate for instructional innovation, Bill helped establish the Science Learning and Instructional Center (SLIC), brought computer-assisted learning to life sciences education, and revitalized curricula in general biology, genetics, and pre-professional health tracks. His advising style was deeply personal, characterized by genuine concern for students’ futures and tireless support through letters of recommendation, counseling, and mentorship.

In 1987, Bill was awarded the President’s Faculty Excellence Award in Instruction, the university’s highest honor for teaching, recognizing faculty who exemplified exceptional performance and excellence in fulfilling WSU’s mission. Glenn Terrell (President Emeritus) wrote of Bill’s award, “It is your quality and length of service at W.S.U., the level of esteem with which you are held by your colleagues — here and elsewhere, and the strong commitment you have demonstrated to W.S.U. that makes your selection most appropriate and well received throughout the university.”

Bill's influence extended far beyond the classroom. As Chair of the Program in General Biology, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Associate Vice Provost for Research, and Associate Director of the Washington Technology Center, he shaped policy, drove interdisciplinary collaboration, and championed institutional advancement with integrity and vision. His leadership during the renovation of WSU’s Science Hall, his work on hazardous waste policy, and his service on the President’s Commission on the Status of Minorities all reflect his steadfast commitment to building a better, more inclusive academic community.

A devoted researcher, Bill contributed foundational studies in algal ecology, particularly on the ecological roles and commercial applications of microalgae. He was widely respected in national and international scientific communities, serving on editorial boards, grant review panels, and professional societies including Sigma Xi, the Phycological Society of America, and the American Society for Microbiology.

In 1997, Bill brought his integrity, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to public research to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he served as Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Research. In his first address to the campus, he outlined an ambitious action plan to elevate UWM as a leading urban research university, emphasizing strategic faculty recruitment, enhanced graduate student support and a shared belief in the university’s potential. He championed interdisciplinary research and supported faculty in advancing scholarship, instruction, and service as interconnected pursuits. During his tenure, he strengthened the university’s research infrastructure, expanded graduate education, and championed initiatives that deepened UWM’s role as a leading urban research university.

He was an advocate for the Great Lakes Water Institute (GLWI), the University of Wisconsin System’s leading freshwater research center. Under his leadership, the Graduate School provided vital support and visibility for GLWI’s work in aquatic sciences and Great Lakes environmental stewardship. Bill was instrumental in advocating for equitable access to technology licensing across the entire University of Wisconsin System, ultimately helping to convince system leadership that all UW campuses, not just Madison, should benefit from patenting and commercializing their own research discoveries. He also played a role in the advancement of the Milwaukee Technology Incubator Center, helping to forge important partnerships between academia and industry. Committed to securing external support for research, Bill regularly traveled to Washington, D.C., where he engaged with federal agencies and policymakers to advocate for research funding. Always a consummate professional, Bill had a polished style. Whether walking into a university boardroom or a Senate hearing, his tailored suits, colorful silk ties (often chosen by his daughters) and his signature black beret, projected both sophistication and approachability. Leading with purpose, Bill left an indelible mark on UWM’s research enterprise and the broader scientific community.

Year after year of teaching biology, followed by leading graduate programs, might have felt repetitive, but it was not for Bill. In the classroom and beyond, he understood the unique challenge of presenting a foundational science in a world that was constantly changing. While the fundamentals of biology stayed the same, the world around his students did not, with each new generation bringing different questions, concerns and cultural contexts. Bill kept his courses alive and urgent by weaving current events, emerging diseases and ethical debates into his lectures. Whether they were coming of age during the Cold War, the AIDS crisis, the rise of genetic engineering or the environmental consequences of industrialization, he made sure his students understood that biology wasn’t just a textbook subject - it was happening now.

Importantly, he understood that today’s students weren't just learning what science was, but why it mattered. His infectious enthusiasm, dynamic lecture style and real-world framing made biology not just a subject, but a lens through which students could understand their changing world. Bill didn’t just update his slides, he updated his thinking, his references, his humor and his empathy. That’s how you stay relevant for over three decades. That is how you stay unforgettable. 

His colleagues described him as scholarly, fair, wise and generous. Students remembered him as inspiring and approachable. He carried himself with warmth and humility, offering a ready smile, a listening ear and unwavering support to those around him. Bill’s life was marked by service, scholarship, and the ability to bring joy to the serious work of education. For all his knowledge, achievements and accolades, what Bill cared about most was people. He believed in long conversations, shared discoveries, family traditions, small kindnesses, and the communal joy of ice cream after a job well done. He was deeply loved and will be missed. 

Bill requested that the best way to honor him would be to contribute to World Central Kitchen at https://wck.org