His funeral service will be held Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Prairie Winds Community Center, with burial to follow at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery in Bridgeport. Visitation will be prior to the service from 9-10 a.m. at the community center. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of any flowers, a memorial will be established in Bill’s name to support Bridgeport School Athletics. Online condolences may be made by viewing Bill’s memorial page at www. bridgmanfuneralhome.com.

Bill was born February 1, 1942, in Minatare, NE, to Manuel and Virginia (Hernandez) Alvarez, the second of 6 siblings. He was President of his senior class and Homecoming King. He was an outstanding athlete, but his most treasured accomplishment was being inducted to the National Honor Society.

Bill was the first in the family to graduate from college. He began college at Scottsbluff Junior College from 1960-1961 and graduated from Chadron State College in the summer of 1966 where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and received his coaching endorsement.

While there he was a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honorary Fraternity.

He devoted his life to teaching students and coaching athletes in all sports at Bridgeport Public Schools.

He retired from teaching at the age of 57, but continued serving the school until the age of 70. He will be remembered for his love for his students and athletes. His hard work and dedication set a strong example. He made a positive impact on students as they would be the next generation to shape our world.

Bill loved golfing, playing cards, and following Bridgeport Bulldogs and Nebraska athletics. He took pride in keeping books for volleyball and basketball games, keeping stats for the track team, and watching the football games. On a sibling trip to Colorado, Bill was the oldest person, at that time, to jump from a high cliff into the Colorado river at age 75.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Nancy, and his son Tommy.

He is survived by his daughters Kristina (Jason) Phelps of Tryon, NE and Theresa (Brad) Troutman of Henderson, NE; brothers Robert of Patterson, CA, Junior (Carla) of Gering, NE, Andy (Connie) of Madison, AL and Tim (Lori) of Brighton, CO; and sister Rachel Alvarez (Arleen) of Los Lunas, NM. He has 6 grandchildren: Tara, Saije, Pierce, Bryson, Jay, and Tayler; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill’s legacy will continue in the lives he touched. He will be dearly missed by his family, the athletes that he coached, his many friends and students.