William Mills Landon passed away peacefully at his home on February 3, 2011. He was surrounded by his loving wife, Beverly, his children, and his beloved little dog, Tweety. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Beverly Marshall Landon, and 5 children, Cindy Graham, Tracy Longchamp, Christopher L. Landon, Billi Jo Whitehill, and Lou-Bea Landon-Forbes. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and by one sister, Wilma Boise. He was predeceased by one granddaughter. Bill was adopted by Melvin and Lou Landon at 6 months of age (born May 10, 1939). He grew up and lived in the town of New Haven. He attended Beeman Academy, graduating in 1957. Bill and Beverly were married in March of 1960 and raised their children, mostly in the Landon family home which has been home to 7 generations. A few years ago, Beverly did extensive research and found his birth parents, and also a half brother that became a treasured friend, Richard Armstrong, of New York. As a boy Bill was a newspaper carrier for the Burlington Free Press, and a boy scout, and he was also a Charter Member of the DeMolay, a Masonic organization for young men, in Middlebury. As a newlywed, Bill cut trees and built a house for his family. Bill worked a variety of jobs over the years. He drove truck with his Border Collie named Scooter. He enjoyed dirt work, operating bulldozers of all sizes and plowing tens of thousands of acres throughout Addison, Rutland, and Chittenden counties, and Crown Point, New York. Later, Bill found a niche for his special skills with a skidsteer in Burlington and helped build Cardinal Woods and other housing developments, as well as work St. Michaels College. His big farm tractor placed many house trailers. He prepared the land for the Vermont National Golf Course. For several years in the late 1970s-early 1980s Bill hosted the original Mud Run on his family property. On Mudders Day, he always set up shop with a bulldozer at the second mudhole so he could tow the vehicles out. He was an automobile ice racer, and snowmobile racer winning many trophies. Bill read voraciously. What a strong man he was. He loved his family fiercely, he loved his pets deeply, and he loved his land with all of his being. A great man is resting now, but he will always be watching over the Landon homestead with much love. Balls to the wall, or nothing at all! - Wild Bill Landon A celebration of Bills life will be held at the VFW in Middlebury on February 17, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Please bring stories to tell and pictures to share. Written stories may be contributed to a collection for the family. Donations may be made to the Addison County Humane Society, 236 Boardman Street, Middlebury, VT 05753.