William Richard Clark, “Bill” to everyone that mattered, passed away on February 4, 2024. Born in 1930 in Pennsylvania, Bill tried but failed to hitchhike from California to Puerto Rico in his thirties, and he made it only as far as Fitzgerald, Georgia. Once in Fitzgerald, Bill then spent over half his 93 years as the owner, operator, and sole employee of Bill’s Place, a beer joint without a sign, where he worked about 6 days a week for over 57 years.
Bill welcomed everyone into Bill’s Place with a “Good Morning” no matter the time of day, and he sent everyone home with a reminder to “Be Careful.” In between, everyone was expected to obey “Bill’s Ten Rules for Peace” and countless other rules Bill would establish as he saw necessary. Most customers obeyed, but flagrant rulebreakers were ejected. Ejected customers were banned for life and were still denied service decades later, often making it only a few feet inside the door before Bill started shaking his head back and forth and pointing to the exit door. Inside the bar, Bill was quick to offer a cold beer, a perfectly seasoned meal, and a mischievous smile (as long as you obeyed the rules.) Outside the bar, Bill took pride in competing against (and often beating) people decades younger than himself at almost any sport they chose.
Bill named almost everything after himself, including Bill’s Place menu items, such as the Bill Burger and the Sloppy Bill, and his children, including son William and daughter Billie Jo.
In addition to his children, Bill is also survived by his extended family. He is survived by thousands of Bill’s Place customers, many who taped dollar bills with their names to its ceiling. And Bill is also survived by a handful of regular customers, many with their names taped on their personal beer mugs and their footsteps in front of and behind the bar, making sure that Bill and Bill’s Place stayed in Fitzgerald longer than anyone could have guessed.
Bill didn’t want a funeral, so he can be best remembered by having a cold beer, telling a great story, and greeting everyone you meet with “Good Morning.”
We love you, Bill. Be Careful.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.