William Lachenmaier: A Modern William Tell | Trad Hunters Magazine

Bill was known for his love of the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman and hunter who rarely missed his mark. In 1963 his bowhunting peers described him as "a modern "William Tell," one of the 10 top bowhunters in the world at the time with over 101 animals to his credit...

At age 5 the family moved to Shafter California. He attended the local schools graduating from  High School in 1937. He than continued his education at the College of Pacific in Stockton California, as well as the Humphrey School of Business.

In 1939 he toured Europe by bicycle and witnessed first hand the prelude to World War II. Soon he was among the first to be drafted and served his country with honor from 1941 to 1945. Bill was sent to the South Pacific as a staff sergeant with the 46th Engineer General Service Regiment, a group specializing in airfield construction in jungle locations.

During his two years in the South Pacific, he served in northern Australia, New Guinea, Horn Island, Goodenough Island and the Trobriands. Among the many medals he earned were three bronze stars on the Asiatic Pacific Campaign ribbon, a Presidential Unit citation, and Oak Leaf Cluster. 

Upon his return to the U.S., he attended aviation training in Stillwater, Oklahoma and Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir near Washington, D.C. where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. On Christmas Day 1943 he married and, after discharge from the army in 1945, the couple moved to Shafter California where he began farming with his father raising potatoes and cotton.

Besides being a successful bowhunter, Bill's interests were many. He was a gifted athlete, a private pilot who owned and flew a variety of aircraft, a boater, motorcyclist, reader, and lover of history. He was well traveled both at home and abroad, having visited many countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. 

In 1960 Bill and two hunting buddies loaded up a truck and headed on a journey to British Columbia. It was on this trip Bill did something amazing. After making a stalk on one Billy with bow an three arrows in his hand he got within 45 yards. When he went to lay the two arrows down for the shot they made noise and the Billy bolted. Bill swung and lead the running goat an arrow met goat at 70 yards. 

After securing it was down he walked back up the hill to get his two arrows. When he got there the guide below was waving his arms. Bill looked up and there was another nice Goat at 35 yards staring at the guide waving. Bill slipped another arrow on his bow and shot it.