When William “Billy” Dick interviewed at South Piedmont Community College in October 1992, he wasn’t planning a lifelong career in education. Fresh out of graduate school and looking for a job, he couldn’t have known that the interview would turn into a 33-year journey filled with students, stories, and South Piedmont history in the making.
In December 2025, Billy marked 33 years of service. In that time, he has seen the College evolve from its days as Anson Community College into the growing, multi-campus institution it is today. He began teaching at age 31, working out of the Watson Building and watching the College expand academically, physically, and geographically.
What’s kept him here all these years? The people.
“I love the people and the community at South Piedmont,” Billy said. “It’s such a good group to work with. I made friends early on that I still work with — and am still friends with — today.”
One of Billy’s earliest memories has since become South Piedmont legend. During his first year, an alligator was discovered in a pond on the LLP Campus. Believed to be a former pet that had outgrown its home, the alligator — nicknamed “Gatorboy”— drew crowds of curious onlookers and later inspired South Piedmont’s mascot, Al the Gator.
For Billy, the most rewarding moment of the year is graduation.
I get paid once a month, but I get rewarded once a year,” he said. “Seeing students cross that stage is the finished product. It’s such an honor to see them move on —and sometimes they even come back as coworkers.”
In the classroom, Billy brings history to life through storytelling, current events, and personal connection. He often reminds students that history is happening every day and encourages them to think about whose stories are told — and whose are not.
Teaching history has also shaped Billy’s worldview. Over the years, he’s learned that while trends and fads may come and go, human nature remains remarkably consistent — and that meaningful change often requires determination and effort.
Reflecting on that belief, Billy points to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.” He adds, “People have fought hard to move that needle. Change doesn’t just happen — you have to work for it.”
If he could interview anyone from the past, Billy says he’d choose Sir Ernest Shackleton, the British Antarctic explorer known for his leadership and perseverance during the Endurance expedition. One day, he hopes to visit South Georgia Island, a remote sub-Antarctic island where the famous explorer now lays to rest.
Billy’s favorite subject to teach is World War II, a topic that is deeply personal — his father was a WWII veteran who served in Normandy.
“History should be personal,” he said. “You should feel a connection to it.”
Looking ahead, Billy is excited to see how South Piedmont continues to grow, from new buildings to expanding campuses and opportunities for students.
His advice for new instructors? Keep a sense of humor, stay flexible, and be willing to adapt.
After 33 years, thousands of students, and one legendary alligator sighting, Billy Dick remains a vital part of South Piedmont’s story—proving that history isn’t just something you teach, it’s something you live.
