Bill Underwood joined Branch 16 in 1972. He has always been very active and still is today. He served as Vice-President 1976-1977, then as Director from 1983 to 1989.
He has been through all the growing stages of Branch 16 and The Ozarks Steam Engine Association. He is not a member of the steam club but work along side all the steam members to make the show go on.
Bill was raised on a farm where most of the farm work was done with horses. They had a 1 ½ HP gas engine on the well head and a 6 HP engine on a Well Drilling rig. His dad finally purchased a Farmall F-12 later in his childhood.
After serving his time in the armed services, he returned home and in 1949 he went to work as a plumber apprentice. He became a master plumber and retired in 1989 after 40 years of service.
When he joined Branch 16, (known as the Southwest Missouri Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association) the members met at each others homes for several years. They only had about 18 members at that time. He has owned several tractors and gas engines. He presently is down to one AC-B and a few gas engines. His favorite gas engine is probably the air cooled Ideal. He has 3 of these. He is now restoring IHC Cub Cadets.
He is on his 4th tractor and has several to go in his collection of garden tractors.
A side from his engine hobby he is a member of the Ford Model T club and has made several of the National club drives. He owns a 1921 T model Depot Hack and a 1925 T model Roadster. He has helped many people restore cars, gas engines and tractors. When he first joined the club, they were out about every weekend looking for old engines and antique equipment. He has attended many shows since 1972 and hasn’t slowed down a whole lot. Bill and his wife Jean live at Republic, Missouri. Bill is another one of the people that is always ready and willing to help a person need.
Bill Underwood is another man that has earned the honor of being inducted into the National EDGETA Hall of Fame.