Posted by Scott David Stewart, Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Bill Heywood and his wife were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds in a Scottsdale hotel.
On Wednesday, January 4, Bill and Susan Heywood were both found dead from gunshot wounds to the head in the Scottsdale Homewood Suites hotel. Bill was 75 and Susan was 70. It was a sad day for the Heywoods’ family and friends, as well as for Bill’s radio family of listeners in the Valley of the Sun.
There was a suicide note inside the couple’s hotel suite on the bedroom door. When the attending housekeeper entered the suite around 1 p.m. and found the note, Scottsdale police were called in.
Scottsdale PD spokesperson, Sgt. Mark Clark, stated that the deaths appeared to be the result of a planned dual suicide. With two handguns found next to the bodies, there was reportedly no evidence of a murder-suicide. At the couple’s Kierland condominium (northeast Phoenix), Sgt. Clark noted that there were additional instructions “putting their affairs in order. Instructions for how to proceed for the funeral and instructions for family and friends.”
Radio Biography of Bill Heywood – “Mornings, of Course”
Radio personality Bill Heywood had been in the broadcasting business since the 1960s. He was a local treasure, named Billboard magazine’s No. 1 radio personality for three years. You could hear his warm, mellow voice on KOY-AM (1230) and KOY-FM (now defunct), KTAR-AM (620), and KFYI-AM (550). Bill’s last radio news show was at KTAR-AM on Saturday mornings back in 2005.
Radio personality Pat McMahan commented on how Bill was “a guy who was born to do radio.”
KSAZ weatherman, Dave Munsey, said Bill was an inspiration to him in his earlier days as a Casa Grande radio jock: “He’s an important part of Arizona radio history. This is a tremendous loss.”
Charlie Van Dyke, a friend and co-worker at KOY-AM, said what many people in the Valley were thinking. “[Bill] was one of the most fantastic people I ever knew. They were very loving, caring people.”
Overwhelmed with Health and Financial Problems.
After leaving KTAR-AM and broadcasting, Bill took on a promising career in real estate. The timing could not have been worse, and financial problems ensued. The Heywoods lost their home in the Biltmore area of Phoenix to foreclosure and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009. Susan, once an advertising and marketing executive, was also reported to have been suffering from medical problems.
Valley Philanthropists and Volunteers.
Honorary Chairman of the Starlight Children’s Foundation Sparkling Starry Soiree 2011 fundraiser, Bill was also active with the Arthritis Foundation, Crisis Nursery, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Herberger Theater Center, and Hospice of the Valley. In addition to supporting her husband’s philanthropic efforts, Susan was known for her help aiding homeless pets. The Heywoods, two exceptional Phoenicians, will be missed.
Resource:
Valley Radio’s Bill Heywood, Wife Found Dead in Hotel
No related posts found.
