From the Family of Bill Stroud

Bill Stroud · Post by **Bill Stroud** » 28 Jul 2011 10:34 am

In all of my life and for the rest of my life I will stand in amazement from all the love, support, kind words, prayers that you have shared with myself and our family. Dad recieved over 8,000 personal emails on his private email and 786 on his inbox here on the forum. As it will take me forever to answer each and every one of them, I wanted to take a moment and thank all of you on behalf of my family.Dad thought the world of each and everyone of you. Several has sent me emails letting us know that they watched Dad's service via the internet. Thank you for doing so. What an honor to know the impact he made on so very many lifes, on so many levels. So many of you has endured each and every trip to the hospital right along with us. For every email sent to him, I sat by his side a read every word. This brought much joy and many smiles on an otherwise horrific ordeal. For that there just are no words. Dad fought a battle that took him from us, but he taught us grace and honor in doing so. Even at his weakest point, and when he lost the ability to speak, he still wrote to us daily, " If God Brought Me To It, He Will See Me Through It, and I'm A Winner Either Way" that my friends is a direct quote from him to us all. The message he would want us to most know, and understand was his soul was safe in the arms of God, and a solider and warrior was he. In honor of my father, and so the message goes forth, I share these words to each of you in hopes it touches a life or two. We are working on a plan to keep his BJS Bars on the market and I hope you all continue to buy them, that was his legacy and his love. We will do our best to make sure we secure his name, quality and love of music. A dear friend and co worker is looking at Dad's company as he knows exactly what was done to make his bars number one worldwide. We want this to continue in the name of Bill Stroud. Let us know your thoughts on this, would you? We love you all, our family is doing everything we can think of to make him proud of us. We stand in the mist of a void in our lifes that we just cannot fill. Our hearts are broken, at the loss of such a remarkable man, but we know we were blessed to call him husband, father and friend...Vicki Love

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 28 Jul 2011 3:53 pm

Well said,and may God bless you and the stroud
Family.

John A. Russell · Post by **John A. Russell** » 29 Jul 2011 8:48 am

Yes please keep the company going producing the best bars in the world.

Bill knew I used his bars and I'm sure, he knew I'd keep on using them.

Kindest regards

JR (UK)

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 29 Jul 2011 9:30 am

Wow, I have been out of pocket all week and just read about my dear friend Bill.

I have known Bill for more years than I can remember. He was a true gentleman and never had anything bad to say about anybody.

I am sorry I missed his service. I surely would have been there.

Vicki, take pride in knowing your dad was loved by so many. He was a true gentleman.

Bill Ferguson

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 29 Jul 2011 6:15 pm

Ms Vicki, I take great pride in having Bill for a friend for many years. Gone but not forgotten. Jody.

Ned McIntosh · Post by **Ned McIntosh** » 29 Jul 2011 8:50 pm

I can think of no finer legacy of Bill's long life, dedicated to the love of his family and of the steel-guitar community, than the continuation of manufacture of the BJS bar in the form we have come to know and trust. By his works shall we remember him.

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 30 Jul 2011 4:14 am

Vicki,

Somehow I double posted.........Paul Franklin

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 30 Jul 2011 4:15 am

Vicki,

I will continue using Bill's bar....Its the best tonal bar in the business.....Whenever you decide to announce you are taking orders, I will order several more...Please post the business announcement in the steel section so most of us will see it......I'm sure b0b won't mind moving it after awhile.....I will miss seeing him and talking about whats going on.....He always loved and treated everyone as family...We all felt like he was a true friend to our family. I can not even comprehend the emptiness your family must feel......May God continue to bless you and your family through life...........Paul Franklin

Danny Naccarato · Post by **Danny Naccarato** » 30 Jul 2011 11:22 pm

I'll echo what Paul said, although I only met him thru the phone...

Gerry Hogan · Post by **Gerry Hogan** » 31 Jul 2011 11:54 pm

Vicki

Barbara and I also echo what Paul and John Russell said a few posts ago. We trust that, when you're good and ready, you will be able to keep Bill's wonderful bars in production. We eagerly await news.

God Bless you all
Barbara and Gerry Hogan

David Higginbotham · Post by **David Higginbotham** » 1 Aug 2011 3:10 pm

Bill was a master craftsman and I refuse to use anything but BJS bars...Bill was a class act and I enjoyed the phone conversations I had with him...God Bless your family in dealing with such a great loss...

Randy Gilliam · Post by **Randy Gilliam** » 1 Aug 2011 3:59 pm

God Bless you and your Family, My Favorite Bar is also One of Bills, Randy G.

pdl20 · Post by **pdl20** » 2 Aug 2011 8:49 pm

Yes please at your pleasure start production again,to carry on his name and one heck of a product,i have 2 and they are still in fine shape but another one would be great to have also.God Bless

David Hartley · Post by **David Hartley** » 3 Aug 2011 1:19 pm

He was loved by everyone, we will all miss him dearly.

It's good that the business will continue.

That's what he would have liked, and there is no better bar to buy.

We who already own them know that.

David Hartley..

Robbie Primm · Post by **Robbie Primm** » 4 Aug 2011 7:02 am

Vicki,Please continue this legacey your Dad started ....Ive Played the same bar for 20 years and each time I would see him the stone was gone and he would replace it at nocharge,But i always took time to sit at his booth and visit,great loss........

Robbie

Bill Howard · Post by **Bill Howard** » 3 Mar 2012 9:16 pm

I still have a BJ stroud Bar I got from the man at the Convention in the 80's, the best bar ever made bar NONE!. I wouldn't take triple what I gave for it worth every cent and more!. Bill was also a great person and knew his craft well, RIP Bill

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 4 Mar 2012 2:51 pm

Bill was always ever-helpful and provided a fine product along with great service. His bar is number # with me and it's so good to know that we will still be able to get them. Do, please, keep us all posted.

My deepest sympathy to his whole family.

DeWitt Scott · Post by **DeWitt Scott** » 25 Mar 2012 3:38 pm

A lot of people did not know two things about Bill and his BJS bars. One year at the International Steel Guitar Convention Bill gave many gold plated bars mounted on a wooden fram to many pro players. I still have mine and when Jerry Byrd passed away he specified that he wanted me to have his bar. The other thing I'm referring to is that the BJS bars was given the title :Official Bar Of The International Steel Guitar convention". And well desevered I might add! He was a friend to everyone he met. My condolences to his family. Scotty

Pete Ethridge · Post by **Pete Ethridge** » 26 Mar 2012 12:34 am

Dear Family,I have khown Bilfor several years ,Bill was stright up with ,a kind man a real good one to . my prayers are with all of you at this time .Bill will be rembered long time.Love always Pete Ethridge Mehann,Ms

Mickey Adams · Post by **Mickey Adams** » 13 Apr 2012 7:50 pm

Vicki...He was a treasured friend to all of us....He will remain in our thoughts forever...

The Steel Guitar Forum

From the Family of Bill Stroud

From the Family of Bill Stroud

Please Keep BJS Going

Prayers Sent!

BJS Bars

Hi Vicki.

Sympathy

Great man

Bill Stroud

to all the family