Celebrating a 42 year career dedicated to YWCA Dayton

Bill Duerson – known to Team YWCA as “Mr. Bill” – has seen decades of  transformation at YWCA Dayton.

What hasn’t changed, though, is his dedication to YW.Duerson was hired July 6, 1981, and his final day as senior facilities attendant was July 14, marking just over 42 years at YW.During his long career at YW, he has helped oversee building and facilities maintenance needs through multiple construction projects and expansions, including renovations to YW’s historic central building in the early 1990s and late 2010s and its growth in Preble County and Huber Heights.

Duerson has become known as the keeper of YW building knowledge and history -- he knows which doors tend to stick, which switch turns which light, every ghost story about the historic facility, and the history of each room throughout the years.

He's even one of the few to remember when our Central Building was home to a swimming pool, which has since been covered up by an indoor playground.

He can't be sure exactly how many people he has met over his years with YW, between the shelter, apartments and even when there used to be a daycare housed in the building.

"It's in the thousands,' Duerson said. "Especially when you count the kids, who by now are all grown."

The team celebrated Duerson on Friday with a party and shared memories about his career. Duerson said he is looking forward to retirement and will be starting off with a vacation to Georgia.