FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2005
Contact: Tom Uribes (559) 278-5366 or 246-1717

Funeral service set for Dr. Monson, professor
emeritus of mass communications/journalism

Funeral service for Dr. William (Bill) Neil Monson, professor emeritus of Mass Communications and Journalism at California State University, Fresno, was held on Saturday, June 25, in Arroyo Grande.

Dr. Monson died on Saturday, June 18, at his home.

Dr. Monson spent 32 years at Fresno State as a professor of radio, television, journalism and film before retiring in 2000.

Born on Dec. 23, 1935 in Galesburg, Illinois, he grew up drawing and writing creative pieces.  By his high school graduation, he had already written, directed and starred in his first play.

After enrolling in Knox College with a double major in speech-drama and creative writing, Dr. Monson worked part-time as a radio disk jockey to help work his way through school.  Upon graduation in 1957, he spent a semester in graduate studies at the University of Iowa, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate Program. 

Eventually the Navy would send him to Hollywood where he spent five years as a writer-producer-director for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. He worked as a substitute teacher for the Los Angeles public schools, sold an occasional script, became the assistant to the president of California State University, Northridge and earned a master’s degree in speech-theatre before accepting a teaching post at California State University, Fresno in 1968.

He also earned a Ph.D. in speech (theater) from the University of Oregon.

Although a full-time teacher, Dr. Monson led a second career as a writer, director and performer.  He published a novel, turned out several prize-winning plays, some historical pageants, librettos for a dozen short operas, two radio nostalgia series for Fresno's public radio station, two TV programs for PBS satellite syndication and a weekly newspaper column, as well as hosting a Sunday night radio telephone talk show for 14 years.  He acted in and directed local theater productions and became involved with several area writers organizations.

In May 1997, Dr. Monson and wife Polly moved permanently to Pismo Beach where he spent his remaining days actively writing, performing and volunteering his time.  Between attempts to publish more creative masterpieces, playing the judge in "To Kill a  Mockingbird" for the San Luis Obispo Little Theater and volunteering for the Pismo Beach Police Department, Monson fought numerous life-threatening illnesses.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline (Polly); children Laura, David and James Monson; and stepchildren Don and Doug Sleeter and Diane Dahlberg.

The family requests that donations be sent to a charity of the donor’s choice.