William Baird

William Franklin Baird age 75, passed away on June 25, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was born on October 20, 1947 to Francis Marion Baird and Emma Bledsoe Baird. A proud 1965 graduate of New Madrid High School in New Madrid, Missouri he went on to graduate from The University of Memphis in 1969 where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Upon graduation, he entered the United States Air Force and proudly served as an air traffic controller.

For more than 30 years at Corroon & Black, now Willis, he was Managing Director and consistently earned awards for his performance as a top producer and for his many contributions to the Nashville community. Upon retirement he was one of only two at the time who had earned the top corporate performance award in every year of its existence.

William was an avid golfer and had been an active member of numerous golf and social clubs including Old Natchez Country Club, The Golf Club of Tennessee, The Everglades Club of Palm Beach FL, The Sailfish Club of Palm Beach, Bluegrass Country Club and New Madrid Country Club. He won many golf events and was especially proud of the 2000 Everglades Club Member Guest Championship he won with the late Frank Keener.

William was a voracious reader and he studied history with passion. He also was an esteemed collector having amassed one of the more exclusive and well documented collections of western firearms in the country. He was particularly fond of antique Colt and Winchester pieces with a documented pedigree and lineage to historical figures from the settlement of the Western frontier.

William would light up any room, was quick with a joke and never short on friends. His outgoing nature, ability to laugh at himself and his charm meant he didn’t often meet a stranger.

He is survived by his children Stephen Cook Baird (Heather Cushman Baird) of Denver and William Travis Baird of Nashville and granddaughters Maya, Wren and Leighton Baird. He is also survived by Zoe Crouse Mayers (Vince), Sally Elizabeth Crouse, Sarah Silverii, Robert Silverii, Carol Cook Mosley, Elizabeth “Tina” Gwaltney, Leigh Ann Baird and countless others who all remember and will miss William’s joy for life and uncanny humor.

A celebration of life will be held at Old Natchez Club, Nashville, TN on August 3, 2023 beginning at 4:00. All friends are welcome and encouraged to stop by, share stories and celebrate a life well lived. Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the New Madrid Memorial Library , 431 Mill St, New Madrid, MO 63869 or The Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation at wgaesf.org