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Retro Bill brings non-stop humor to lively drug awareness campaign

March 15, 2011|By Bob Flynn | The Winchester Sun

Students in the Clark County school system got a little taste of Hollywood yesterday when Retro Bill paid a visit to Winchester as part of the Winchester Police Department’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) campaign.

For the past 13 years, Retro Bill has been the official International DARE Safety Buddy and colorful spokesman for the program, which is aimed at giving kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence.

Dressed in bright, colorful clothes and sporting an exaggerated pompadour hairdo, Retro Bill uses humor and fun exercises to bring his message of safety, self-esteem and character education to more than one million kindergarten through 12th-grade students each year across the United States and Canada.

Winchester Police Officer Chris Cantor, who heads the DARE Program, said he liked what he heard after seeing Retro Bill at a conference last year.

“I saw him at an International DARE Conference in Cincinnati and saw what a good job he does with adults and kids of any age, and I thought Retro Bill would be a good influence on the kids here in Winchester, and that they would really enjoy him,” said Cantor.

Retro Bill said it was an honor to work with law enforcement officers to help youth make healthy, safe choices, like staying away from strangers, not being afraid of telling grownups if they are being bullied, or if there is a problem at school or in the home.

“I do what I do because I am a real patriot. I love my country and I think we’re fortunate to live in the greatest country in the world,” he said. “That’s what this is all about. The hair, the cool clothes, working with law enforcement officers and prevention specialists in the schools, enables me, in a cool sort of way, to put really cool packaging on a very wholesome, straightforward message. Good gets good. What goes around, comes around.”

Contact Bob Flynn at bflynn@winchestersun.com.

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