VT College of Science Magazine Summer 2008 | Page 8

Issue No. 5 SUMMER 2008

C o l l e g e

o f

Alum Travels the
World, But Stays
Close to His Roots

Photo courtesy of William Presley

S c i e n c e

M a g a z i n e

6

One might say William “Bill” Presley (GEO ’57) came from
humble beginnings. Born the oldest child in a hardworking family in Bluefield, Va., he grew up surrounded
by the coal mines of Appalachia. His father was an insurance salesman; his mother a teacher. Both rarely set foot
outside of the area during their lifetimes.
With a palpable sense of modesty, Presley speaks openly
about the kind of life he has led during his 37 years as a
geophysicist with Exxon Mobil Corporation and on into
retirement. During his career, Presley, his wife Fran, and
their family traveled and lived around the ݽɱ